Toothbrush with fluid directing drive assembly

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush with fluid directing drive assembly is provided. The toothbrush may include a handle including an end surface, a brush shaft extending from the end surface of the handle, a drive assembly positioned within the handle and causing the brush shaft to oscillate upon actuation of a motor, a brush tip removably coupled to the brush shaft and positioned adjacent to the end surface of the handle, and a fluid passage defined within the drive assembly within the handle. The brush tip may include a fluid conduit therein. Oscillation of the brush shaft may cause the entire brush tip to oscillate correspondingly. Fluid may be transported through the drive assembly and to the fluid conduit of the brush tip by the fluid passage.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of U.S.Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 14/216,779, now U.S. Pat. No.9,987,109, filed 17 Mar. 2014 and entitled “Mechanically-driven, sonictoothbrush and water flosser,” which claims priority pursuant to 35U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/802,121 filed 15Mar. 2013 and entitled “Mechanically driven sonic toothbrush and waterflosser,” which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

The present application is also related to U.S. Nonprovisionalapplication Ser. No. 13/462,614, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,943,634, filed 2May 2012 and entitled “Mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush system.”

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to oral health products. Morespecifically, the present disclosure relates to sonic toothbrush systemswith water flosser features.

BACKGROUND

The state of the art in sonic toothbrush technology centers around drivesystems that create a desired oscillating toothbrush output motion byusing electro-magnetic drivers and centering return springs to directlycreate oscillating motion. No continuous input rotation or drivers areinvolved in these electro-magnetic systems and such electro-magneticsystems have a relatively high production cost.

There are also currently many toothbrushes that provide oscillatingoutput brush motion from continuously rotating input drivers. Suchmechanically-driven toothbrushes typically have a reduced manufacturingcost as compared to toothbrushes employing electro-magnetic drivers.However, such rotating systems all perform the oscillating function atspeeds well below sonic level. There are no continuously rotating inputdrive systems that operate at sonic speeds.

Present water jet flossers are standalone units that provide only thepulsing water jet stream using a dedicated, unique handle and flossingtip. There are some devices known as “combo” units that providetoothbrush function along with a water flosser function from a singleunit. These devices essentially take a water flosser base unit with ahandle and tip assembly, enlarge the base unit, and add a separatetoothbrush handle that sits on the enlarged base. Two handles arerequired to provide both the water flosser and toothbrush functions.There are no systems that provide both the water flosser and toothbrushfunctions using only one handle assembly and one toothbrush/tip.

The information included in this Background section of thespecification, including any references cited herein and any descriptionor discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes onlyand is not to be regarded subject matter by which the scope of theinvention as defined in the claims is to be bound.

SUMMARY

A combination toothbrush and water flosser brush head system providesthe capability for sonic toothbrush bristle tip movement as well as thedelivery of a high pressure, pulsating water flosser fluid streamthrough an extendable and retractable jet tip nozzle within a singletoothbrush head assembly. This brush head assembly is no larger than asingle function powered toothbrush brush head. The extension of the jettip nozzle above the height of the bristle tufts affords the user theability to accurately locate and control the fluid stream for optimalefficacy without interference from the bristles, while the capability toretract the nozzle allows for unimpeded sonic toothbrush movementwithout interference from the jet tip nozzle. The brush head system hasthe capability to perform these functions while delivering the higherfluid pressures necessary for truly effective water flossing.

When the toothbrush tip is attached to the toothbrush shaft of the powerhandle, the internal water path of the toothbrush tip is sealed to thebrush shaft of the power handle. This provides a continuous, sealedwater path through the power handle up to and out of the water jetnozzle located between the toothbrush bristles. An external, pulsedwater jet generating system is attached to the input portion of thewater path within the power handle. When activated, this water jetgenerating system supplies a stream of pulsed water which passes throughthe power handle, through the toothbrush tip, and exits from the semirigid nozzle within the toothbrush head bristle pattern. This pulsedwater jet can be directed along the gum line to provide the waterflossing effect of a standard, standalone water flosser mechanism.

The water supply connection between the power handle and the water jetgenerating system may be detachable. This allows the power handle to beuntethered from the water supply and water jet base unit, when desired,to be used as a standalone toothbrush. The power handle may have thecapability to control only the sonic toothbrush function or both thetoothbrush function and the pulsed water jet function.

In one implementation, a toothbrush includes a handle with an endsurface, a brush shaft extending from the end surface of the handle, adrive assembly positioned within the handle, a brush tip removablycoupled to the brush shaft and positioned adjacent to the end surface ofthe handle, and a fluid passage defined within the drive assembly withinthe handle. The brush tip includes a fluid conduit therein. The driveassembly causes the brush shaft to oscillate upon actuation of a motor.Oscillation of the brush shaft causes the entire brush tip to oscillatecorrespondingly. Fluid is transported through the drive assembly and tothe fluid conduit of the brush tip by the fluid passage.

In another implementation, a toothbrush includes a handle, a brush tipremovably coupled to the handle, a drive assembly converting rotation ofa drive shaft into oscillation of the brush tip and including a fluidconduit therein, and a fluid passage transporting fluid from a fluidsource to the fluid conduit in the brush tip. The brush tip includes abrush head on a distal end thereof. The brush head supports a pluralityof bristles. The drive assembly is positioned within the handle. Aportion of the fluid passage is defined by a component of the driveassembly moving within the handle.

In another implementation, a toothbrush includes a handle, an electricmotor positioned within the handle and including a drive shaft, a brushshaft extending from the handle, a brush tip removably coupled to thebrush shaft, a drive assembly converting rotation of the drive shaftinto oscillation of the brush shaft, and a fluid passage through whichfluid is transported from a fluid source to the brush shaft. The brushshaft includes a longitudinal axis and a fluid channel therealong. Thebrush tip includes a brush head and a fluid conduit in fluidcommunication with the fluid channel of the brush shaft. The driveassembly converts rotation of the drive shaft into oscillation of thebrush shaft about its longitudinal axis. The fluid passage transportsfluid from the fluid source to the fluid channel of the brush shaft. Aportion of the drive assembly internal to the handle forms a portion ofthe fluid passage that provides fluid communication between the fluidsource and the fluid channel. The brush shaft transfers motion and fluidto the brush tip.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. A moreextensive presentation of features, details, utilities, and advantagesof the present invention as defined in the claims is provided in thefollowing written description of various embodiments of the inventionand illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary implementation of acombination mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush and water flosser.

FIG. 2 is a front, top isometric view of the toothbrush/flosser of FIG.1 with the housing, base cap, and brush tip removed.

FIG. 3 is a rear, bottom isometric with the housing, base cap, and brushtip removed.

FIG. 4 is a side isometric view in cross section of thetoothbrush/flosser of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged bottom isometric view of the drive assembly of thetoothbrush/flosser of FIG. 1 with the housing, brush tip, drive bracket,and rear chassis removed and the irrigator hose shown in phantom forclarity.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged bottom isometric view in cross section of thedrive assembly of the toothbrush/flosser of FIG. 1 with the housing,brush tip, drive bracket, and rear chassis removed for clarity.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged bottom isometric view in cross section of thedrive assembly of the toothbrush/flosser of FIG. 1 with the housing andbrush tip removed for clarity.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side isometric view in cross section of the baseend of the toothbrush/flosser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the brush tip of the toothbrush/flosserof FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side elevation view in cross section of the brushhead portion of the brush tip of the toothbrush/flosser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a side isometric view in cross section of the brush tip ofthe toothbrush/flosser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12A is a front isometric view of an exemplary implementation of acombination mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush and water flosser.

FIG. 12B is a rear isometric view of the toothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 12C is an exploded isometric view of the toothbrush/flosser ofdepicting the detachability of the brush tip and the base.

FIG. 13A is a front, right side, isometric view of thetoothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A with the housing and brush tip removed.

FIG. 13B is a rear, left side, isometric view of the toothbrush/flosserof FIG. 12A with the housing and brush tip removed.

FIG. 14 is a right side elevation view in cross section of thetoothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 12A.

FIG. 15A is an exploded isometric view of the component parts of thetoothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 15B is an exploded isometric view of the component parts of thetoothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 15C is an exploded isometric view of the component parts of thetoothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged, right side, isometric view in cross section ofthe toothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 12Adetailing the bottom portion of the handle including the detachable baseand the power supply.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged, right side, isometric view in cross section ofthe toothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 12Adetailing the detachable base in a removed configuration and operationof the poppet valves.

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of the removable base.

FIG. 19A is an isometric view in cross section of a portion of theremovable base taken along line 19A-19A in FIG. 18.

FIG. 19B is an isometric view in cross section of a portion of theremovable base taken along line 19B-19B in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20A is an enlarged, right side, isometric view in cross section ofthe toothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 12Adetailing the middle portion of the handle including the motor and thedrive train.

FIG. 20B is an enlarged, left side, isometric view in cross section ofthe toothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 12Adetailing the middle portion of the handle including the motor and thedrive train.

FIG. 21 is a front, right side isometric view of the drive train of thetoothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A with the housing and portions of thechassis removed.

FIG. 22 is a rear, left side isometric view of the drive train of thetoothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A with the housing and the chassis removed.

FIG. 23 is a left side, isometric view in cross section of the drivetrain of the toothbrush/flosser taken along line 23-23 in FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a rear, left side, isometric view in cross section of thedrive train of the toothbrush/flosser taken along line 24-24 in FIG. 22.

FIG. 25A is a top isometric view of the eccentric cam that mounts on themotor shaft.

FIG. 25B is a bottom isometric view of the eccentric cam of FIG. 25A.

FIG. 26 is an isometric view of a second exemplary implementation of aremovable toothbrush/flosser head.

FIG. 27 is an exploded isometric view of the brush tip of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a cross section view of the brush tip of FIG. 26 taken alongline 28-28 in FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged, right side, isometric view in cross section ofthe toothbrush/flosser of FIG. 12A taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 12Adetailing the top portion of the handle and the base of the brush tip.

FIG. 30 is an isometric view of an alignment insert for the brush shafthoused within the brush tip.

FIG. 31A is a rear, left side, isometric view of a shaft support for thebrush shaft housed within the brush tip.

FIG. 31B is a front isometric view of the shaft support of FIG. 31A.

FIG. 32 is a bottom plan view in cross section of the brush tip takenalong line 32-32 in FIG. 29.

FIG. 33A is an isometric view of a second exemplary implementation of aremovable toothbrush/flosser head.

FIG. 33B is a cross section view of the toothbrush/flosser head of FIG.33A taken along line 33B-33B in FIG. 33A with the flosser tip in aretracted position.

FIG. 33C is a cross section view of the toothbrush/flosser head of FIG.33A similar to the section taken along line 33B-33B in FIG. 33A with theflosser tip in an extended position.

FIG. 34A is an isometric view of a third exemplary implementation of aremovable toothbrush/flosser head.

FIG. 34B is a cross section view of the toothbrush/flosser head of FIG.35A taken along line 34B-34B in FIG. 34A.

FIG. 35A is an isometric view of a fourth exemplary implementation of aremovable toothbrush/flosser head.

FIG. 35B is a cross section view of the toothbrush/flosser head of FIG.35A taken along line 35B-35B in FIG. 35A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Several exemplary embodiments of a mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrushsystem, with a water flossing tip, are disclosed herein. The sonictoothbrush/flosser system makes use of a continuously rotating inputdriver (e.g., a DC or AC motor) that operates a balanced linkage systemto change the continuous rotation of the input driver into a desiredoscillating output motion, which drives the attached toothbrush head ata sonic speed or speeds.

Use of DC drive motors for input drive motion may result in a lowerproduction cost of the mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush/flossersystem than the current electro-magnetic sonic toothbrush systems aswell as the use of relatively inexpensive molded plastic components.

The sonic toothbrush/flosser systems disclosed herein may provide acontinuously rotating input drive system that provides oscillating,sonic-speed toothbrush output motion with an extremely low level ofmechanical vibration and noise. Also, the exemplary mechanically-driven,sonic toothbrush systems disclosed herein provide a sonic toothbrushsystem at a reduced production cost.

Some embodiments of a mechanically-driven sonic toothbrush may beconfigured for attachment to a water flosser base unit. In theseembodiments, the sonic toothbrush may include a fluid inlet forconnection with a fluid tube from the flosser base unit. A fluid flowconduit is provided through the handle of the sonic toothbrush and alsothrough a portion of the oscillation drive motion mechanism. The fluidflow conduit exits through a replaceable brush tip that carries anirrigator nozzle mounted within the bristles on the brush head. When thebrush tip is attached to the output shaft of the handle, the internalwater path of the brush tip is sealed with the outlet of the fluid flowconduit through the output shaft. This provides a continuous, sealedwater path through the power handle up to and out of the water jetnozzle located between the toothbrush bristles.

An external, water flosser base system that generates a pulsed water jetis attached to an inlet port on the handle via a hose. When activated,this water jet generating system supplies a stream of pulsed water whichpasses through the handle, through the rush tip, and exits from thenozzle within the toothbrush head bristle pattern. This pulsed water jetcan be directed along the gum line to provide the water flossing effectof a standard, standalone water flosser. The water flosser base unitpumps water or other fluid from a reservoir in the base unit, throughthe connection hose, through the fluid pathway in the sonic toothbrush,and out the irrigator tip in the brush head to provide a water flossingdevice in combination with the benefits of a sonic toothbrush.

The water supply connection between the handle and the water flosserbase system is detachable. This allows the handle to be untethered fromthe water flosser, when desired, to be used as a standalone toothbrush.The handle has the capability to control both the toothbrush functionand the pulsed water jet function. This system thereby provides twocapabilities, a sonic toothbrush as well as a water jet, water flosser,from just one convenient handle.

The handheld toothbrush/flosser disclosed herein provides a much morecompact, efficient, and less costly “combination” toothbrush/waterflosser unit. With only one handheld device, considerable space is savedby not having to accommodate a second handle, and the space utilizationcan be more efficient. In addition, a single handle affords thepotential for the combined system to be more economical. The detachablewater source also allows the power handle to function untethered as atoothbrush for travel or when the brushing function is desired to bemore portable. The single handle has the capability to control both thetoothbrush function as well as the pulsed water jet function. Inaddition, a single, replaceable toothbrush head provides for both thebrushing function as well as a directable nozzle for the pulsed waterjet function without the requirement for separate, dedicated attachmentsfor each of the two function.

On exemplary implementation of a combination mechanically-driven, sonictoothbrush and water flosser 110 is presented in FIGS. 1-11. As shown inFIG. 1, the combination sonic toothbrush and flosser 110 is composed ofa handle 111 and a removable brush tip 125. The brush tip 125 may extenddistally to form a brush head 224 housing a bristle insert 226 fromwhich a plurality of bristle tufts 127 may extend. For purposes ofreference, the distal end of the toothbrush/flosser 110 may be referredto as the brush end 112 and the proximal end may be referred to as abase end 114.

The handle 111 is defined by a housing 116 that generally extendsbetween the base end 114 and the brush end 112. The housing 116 may begenerally cylindrical in shape to ergonomically fit in the hand of auser, but it may be formed in any other desirable ergonomic shapes. Thecylindrical shape may taper in the direction of the brush end 112approximately one third the length of the housing 116 from the brush end112. The housing 116 may expose one or more actuation buttons 122 a, 122b to activate and control the functionality of the toothbrush/flosser110. A face plate 123 may be supported on the housing 116 in a regionextending about the control buttons 122 a, 122 b as either a separateplate or as an overmolded surface on the housing 116. The housing 116may further expose one or more status indicators 119, e.g., an LED, forindicating to a user a mode or status of operation of thetoothbrush/flosser 110. Exemplary modes may be low speed, high speed, orwater flosser mode. Exemplary status indications may be low battery,charging, and fully charged battery.

The base end 114 of the housing 116 may be enclosed by a generally flatbase cap 118 upon which the toothbrush/flosser 110 may be stood uprighton a planar surface, such as a countertop. Additionally, the base end114 of the toothbrush/flosser 110 may be placed within an inductivecharging unit (not shown) between brushing and flossing sessions tocharge internal batteries that provide power to drive the motor for thesonic toothbrush as further described herein. The base cap 118 maydefine an opening 117 to expose an inner wall of a coil bobbin 129 thatmay be placed upon an induction post of the charging unit. The base cap118 may be attached to the housing 116 (or a chassis structure containedwithin the housing and further described below) with one or more screws113 or other appropriate fastening devices. In order to provide a waterflosser feature, an external connector 212 may be provided for couplingat one end with the base cap 118 and at another end with a fluid hosefrom a separate water flosser base unit (not shown).

FIGS. 2 and 3 are, respectively front top and rear side isometric viewsof the toothbrush/flosser 110 of FIG. 1 with the housing 116, base cap118, and brush tip 125 removed to reveal the inner structures of thetoothbrush/flosser 110. FIG. 4 is a side isometric view in cross sectionof the toothbrush/flosser 110 with the housing 116, base cap 118, andbrush tip 125 intact. A brush shaft 120 extends distally out of thehousing 116 at the brush end 112 from the drive assembly 136 furtherdiscussed below. A shaft seal 121 extends about the shaft 120 betweenthe housing 116 and the shaft 120 at the brush end 112 and is configuredto allow the shaft 120 to oscillate while preventing the ingress offluids into the interior of the housing.

The toothbrush/flosser 110 may be built upon and around an internalsupport structure formed by a rear chassis 124 extending toward the baseend 114 and a drive bracket 126 extending toward the brush end 112. Arechargeable battery pack 130 is supported in a pocket of the rearchassis 124. An electric DC motor 132 is supported on the rear chassis124 near the interface between the rear chassis 124 and the drivebracket 126. The motor 132 is electrically coupled to the battery pack130 via a printed circuit board 134 supported across the chassis 124 andthe drive bracket 126 with a damper sheet 133 of vibration dampingmaterial placed in between. As best seen in FIG. 10, the battery pack130 is recharged by an induction coil 128 that is wound around a bobbin129 that is mounted to the rear end of the chassis below the batterypack 130 and on the interior side of the bottom cap 118. The inductioncoil 128 connected to the battery pack 130 via the circuit board 134 toallow the circuit board 134 to appropriately condition the power inputto the battery pack 130. An aperture 117 in the bottom cap 118 isaligned with a cavity within the bobbin 129 and allows thetoothbrush/flosser 110 to be placed upon an induction post of a chargingunit to inductively charge the battery pack 130 via the induction coil128. A coil seal 135, e.g., and O-ring, may be positioned between thebobbin 129 and the base cap 118 in order to prevent water or other fluidfrom infiltrating the handle 111 from the base end 114 at the interfaceof the bobbin 129 and the base cap 118.

Control circuits on the circuit board 134 are actuated via the controlbuttons 122 a, 122 b to cause the motor 132 to operate at differentstates (e.g., on, off, high speed, low speed, etc.). In one embodiment,the toothbrush/flosser 110 may be electrically connected with the basewater flosser unit and the control buttons 122 a, 122 b may control theactuation and operation of the base water flosser unit per the design ofthe circuits on the circuit board 134. In an alternate embodiment, thecircuit board 134 may be provided with a radio frequency (RF)transmitter or transceiver to wirelessly communicate with and control awater flosser base unit to provide control commands to the base unit. Inone exemplary embodiment the circuit board 134 and the base unit mayboth be equipped with Bluetooth transceivers. In another exemplaryembodiment, the wireless connection may be an infrared communicationlink.

As depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drive assembly 136 is supported withina pocket of the drive bracket 126 at the interface of the drive bracket126 and the rear chassis 124. The drive assembly 136 mechanicallycouples the output shaft 137 of the motor 132 to the brush shaft 120 tocause the brush shaft 120 to oscillate at sonic speeds when the motor132 causes its output shaft 137 to continuously rotate. As illustratedin FIGS. 4-7, the drive bracket 126 may support a front bearing bracket138 and a rear bearing bracket 140 that, in combination with the drivebracket 126 form front and rear pillow blocks that respectively hold afront bearing 142 and a rear bearing 144. The bearings 142, 144 may beball or roller type bearings in circular races through which the brushshaft 120 extends. The bearing 144 of the rear bearing bracket 140supports the rear end of the brush shaft 120, and the bearing ring 142of the front bearing bracket 138 supports the brush shaft 120 near themidpoint of the brush shaft 120. As best seen in FIGS. 5-6, an isolatordamper 146 is mounted on the drive bracket 126 and surrounds the brushshaft 120 in front of the front bearing bracket 138 to vibrationallyisolate the moving components of the drive assembly 136 from the housing116.

As further shown in FIGS. 4-7, the drive assembly 136 is mechanicallycoupled to an output shaft 137 of the motor 132 for operation. As bestseen in FIG. 7, the motor output shaft 137 extends from the motor 132into a through-bore in a motor crank arm 150 to fixedly connect with themotor crank arm 150 and form a rear end of the drive assembly 136. Aneccentric pin 153 extends from the front end of through-bore of themotor crank arm 150 in which a rear shaft 153 a of the eccentric pin 153is fixedly attached. A cam portion 153 c in a middle section of theeccentric pin 153 extends through a lower aperture 165 in a dog bonecoupler 152. A front shaft 153 b of the eccentric pin 153 extendsdistally from the cam portion 153 c toward the brush end 112 and isreceived in a support bushing 154 mounted within the framework of thedrive bracket 126. The front shaft 153 b and the rear shaft 153 a may beof the same diameter and are axially aligned. The cam portion 153 c mayhave a center of mass offset from the axis of alignment of the rear andfront shafts 153 a, 153 b and may be of a larger diameter than thediameter of the rear and front shafts 153 a, 153 b and thus have a pivotaxis offset, but parallel to, the common pivot axis of the rear andfront shafts 153 a, 153 b. The cam portion 153 c may be supported in thelower aperture 165 of the dog bone coupler 152 by a cam bearing 166.

A rocker arm 148 may be positioned in front of an upper aperture 169 ofthe dog bone coupler 152. The rocker arm 148 may be formed with a pivotshaft 167 that extends from a rear surface proximally toward the baseend 114 through the upper aperture 169 in the dog bone coupler 152 asbest seen in FIG. 6. The pivot shaft 167 may be supported in the upperaperture 169 by a combination of a pivot sleeve 168 and a bushing 170 toallow the pivot shaft 167 of the rocker arm 148 to freely pivot with lowresistance within the upper aperture 169. In some embodiments, therocker arm 148 may be made of a molded plastic material as furtherdescribed below. As such, the pivot sleeve 168 may be made of a metal toprovide for a more resilient and smooth pivot joint with the bushing170. A front surface of the rocker arm 148 may define an aperture orcavity 172 into which the brush shaft 120 is inserted and mechanicallyconnected. The shaft cavity 172 is aligned with an axis A parallel to,but offset from, an axis B of the pivot shaft 167 on the opposite sideof the rocker arm 148. Through this linkage the motor crank arm 150 isthereby coupled with the rocker arm 148 via the dog bone coupler 152 andfurther to the brush shaft via the rocker arm 148.

In this implementation, the crank arm 150 may be amorphously shaped andsized as seen in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the crank arm 150 may havea cylindrical rear receiver section 150 a extending toward the base end114 that receives the output shaft 137 of the motor 132. The thicknessof the wall of the rear receiver section 150 a may be designed toaccommodate a set screw (not shown) to tightly hold the output shaft 137within the crank arm 150. The crank arm 150 may further have a frontreceiver section 150 b extending toward the brush end 112 that receivesthe rear shaft 153 a of the eccentric pin 153. The front receiversection 150 b may be formed as a rounded frustum with the narrowdiameter portion adjacent the cam bearing 166 in order to minimize thepossibility of interference between the crank arm 150 and the cambearing 166. The rear portion of the front receiver section 150 b mayhave a thicker wall and may be designed to accommodate a set screw (notshown) to tightly hold the rear shaft 153 a of the eccentric pin 153within the crank arm 150.

A balance section 150 c of the crank arm 150 may be formed between therear receiver section 150 a and the front receiver section 150 b and maybe of an amorphous shape that is tuned to help balance the oscillationsin the drive assembly 136 to reduce noise and vibration in the driveassembly 136. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the crank arm may beformed of two lobes of different sizes with scooped sidewalls inbetween. In this implementation, the crank arm 150 is not provided withcavities for the addition of various additional balance weights(although such is possible).

In this implementation, however, the rocker arm 148 may be formed withone or cavities to introduce balance weights 162 to improve the balanceof the drive system 136 to reduce noise and transmission of extraneousvibration to the handle 111. The balance weights 162 may be held inplace by one or more plug pins 164 as shown in FIGS. 5-7.

As best shown in FIG. 5, once the motor 132 is actuated by the controlbutton 122, the motor drive shaft 137, which is fixedly received in thethrough-bore of the motor crank arm 150, rotates continuously in asingle rotational direction until the control button 22 is depressed todeactivate the motor 132 and stop its rotation. The rear shaft 153 a ofthe eccentric pin 153 is fixedly received in the front end of thethrough-bore of the motor crank arm 150. The enlarged cam portion 153 cof the eccentric pin 153 is rotationally received within the cam bearing166, which is fixedly received in the lower aperture 165 of the dog bonecoupler 152. The front shaft 153 b of the eccentric pin 153 isrotationally received in the support bushing 154 fixedly mounted in thedrive bracket 126. Thus, the rotating motor drive shaft 137 causes themotor crank arm 150 and the eccentric pin 153 to rotate in the samedirection. Thus, the cam portion 153 c and the front shaft 153 b of theeccentric pin 153 rotate in the same direction within the cam bearing166 and the bushing 154, respectively. The rotation of the cam portion153 c causes the dog bone coupler 152 to move back and forth or, inother words, oscillate, primarily in an oblong or linear orientation.

The pivot pin 167 extending from the rocker arm 148 is pivotally oroscillatingly received in the pivot sleeve 168 and bushing 170, which isfixedly received in the upper aperture 169 of the dog bone coupler 152.Thus, the back and forth or oscillating displacement of the dog bonecoupler 152 causes the rocker arm 148 to displace back and forth oroscillate about an axis passing through the center of the rocker arm148. As a result, the brush shaft 120, which is mounted in the shaftcavity 172 in the rocker arm 148, is caused to pivot back and forth oroscillate about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 120.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-11, the toothbrush/flosser device 110 ofthe delivers water or other fluid through the device 110 to an irrigatortip 228 provided among the bristles 127 within the brush head 224. Assuch, the brush shaft 120 in this implementation is hollow and defines afluid channel 220 therethrough. The entire fluid pathway through thetoothbrush/flosser device 110 from the base end 114 to the brush end 112is depicted in FIGS. 2-11.

As shown in detail in FIG. 8, the toothbrush/flosser device 110 may beconnected with an irrigator hose 215 from a water flosser base unit (notshown) having a fluid reservoir and pump to provide a pulsating, highpressure water flow to the irrigator tip 228. The irrigator hose 215 isconnected to an external connector 212 that may be removably connectedto toothbrush/flosser device 110 within an irrigator socket 206 mountedwithin the base end 14 of the housing 116 and extending through anaperture in the base cap 118 adjacent the bobbin aperture 117. A socketseal 211 (e.g., an O-ring) may be positioned between the irrigatorsocket 206 and the base cap 118 in order to prevent water or other fluidfrom infiltrating the handle 111 from the base end 114 at the interfaceof the irrigator socket 206 and the base cap 118.

The external connector 212 defines a fluid flow channel 205 from aninlet end formed as a hose barb 214 for attachment to the irrigator hose215 to an outlet end formed as a hollow tube socket connector 213 thatis inserted within a cavity 209 defined within the irrigator socket 206.In one exemplary implementation, the hose barb 214 and the socketconnector 213 are arranged perpendicular to each other on the externalconnector 212 such that the fluid channel 205 bends from the inlet atthe hose barb 214, which is oriented radially with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the toothbrush/flosser device 110, to exit throughthe socket connector 213 in which the fluid channel 205 is orientedparallel to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush/flosser device 110.

A locking sleeve 216 may be placed over the irrigator hose 215 aroundthe hose barb 214 to ensure a mechanically secure and fluid-tight seal.A fluid-tight seal is ensured between the irrigator socket 206 and thesocket connector 213 within the cavity 209 by a connector seal 210(e.g., an O-ring) that seats against a shoulder 223 in the irrigatorsocket 206. The socket connector 213 may define an annular recess 217about an outer wall that interfaces with the connector seal 210, helpingto provide a mechanical interface and friction fit between the socketconnector 213 and the irrigator socket 206. The connector seal may beretained within the cavity 209 of the irrigator socket 206 by a retainersleeve 208 that presses the connector seal 210 against the shoulder 223.The retainer sleeve 208 may mechanically interface with the irrigatorsocket 206 via a snap or detent connection between an annular rib 219formed on the outer diameter of the retainer sleeve 208 and acorresponding annular recess 219 formed in the inner diameter of theirrigator socket 206 (or vice versa).

The external connector 212 interfaces with the irrigator socket 206 in afluid-tight, friction fit, but is also easily removable upon applicationof rearward axial force in order to disconnect the toothbrush/flosserdevice 110 from the irrigator hose 215, which fits tightly over the hosebarb 214 of the external connector 212 and is difficult to remove. Theexternal connector 212 may be removed to place the toothbrush/flosserdevice 110 in an inductive charging unit or to provide mobility fortoothbrush/flosser device 110 (e.g., to take the device 110 on a tripand use it only as a mechanically-drive sonic toothbrush while away fromthe water flosser base unit).

The distal or front end of the irrigator socket 206 is formed as abarbed outlet 207 that connects with an internal transport hose 202 thatcarries water or other fluid from the irrigator socket 206 to the rockerarm 148. Another locking sleeve 204 may be placed over the transporthose 202 around the barbed outlet 207 to ensure a mechanically secureand fluid-tight seal. The transport hose 202 travels within the housing116 and, in the present exemplary embodiment, through an aperture in thechassis 124 (as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18), and ultimately connects withan inlet barb 147 formed on the rocker arm 148 extending rearwardparallel to the pivot shaft 167 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. A furtherlocking sleeve 218 may be placed over the transport hose 202 around thebarbed inlet 147 to ensure a mechanically secure and fluid-tight seal.

In this implementation, the rocker arm 148 further defines a fluidpassage 250 that conducts fluid from the transport hose 202 to thechannel 220 in the brush shaft 120. The fluid passage 250 extends fromthe inlet barb 147, which is oriented parallel with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the toothbrush/flosser device 110, and bendslaterally across the rocker arm 148 to intersect with the shaft cavity172. The brush shaft 120 that is mounted within the shaft cavity 172 ofthe rocker arm 148 has a shaft inlet 252 formed as a cutout in thesidewall of the brush shaft 120 at the proximal or rear end that isaligned with the lateral branch of the fluid passage 250 within therocker arm 148, thereby allowing fluid to flow from fluid passage 250 inthe rocker arm 148 into the channel 220 in the brush shaft 120.

The front end of the brush shaft 120 is configured to engage with abrush tip 125 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. An exemplary brush tip 125 isshown in greater detail in FIGS. 9-11. The brush tip 125 may define afluid flow channel 221 from the proximal or bottom end to the brush head224. A shaft alignment insert 222 may be placed within the fluid flowchannel 221 at the proximal end to align upon and engage with the distaltip of the brush shaft 120. As show in in FIGS. 2-4, the brush shaft 120may define an alignment step 240 at its distal tip wherein a portion ofthe sidewall of the brush shaft 120 is removed. The shaft alignmentinsert 222 may have a corresponding alignment shoulder 242 formed uponan inner wall for engagement with the alignment step 240. Thus, in orderfor the brush tip 125 to be placed fully upon and mechanically engagedwith the brush shaft 120, the alignment step 240 and the alignmentshoulder 242 must be oriented properly with respect to each other tofully interface.

In one exemplary embodiment, a portion of the sidewall of the alignmentinsert 222 may be windowed to define a longitudinal web 244 that isformed with a bump 246 that is aligned radially inward. The web 244 thushas some flexibility and can expand as needed to provide clearance tothe brush shaft 120 while trying to appropriately orient the brush tip125 thereon. Once the brush tip 125 and brush shaft 120 are properlyoriented, the bump 246 may provide an additional mechanical retentionforce on the side of the brush shaft 120.

The brush tip 125 is further retained on the brush shaft 120 with ashaft clip 234 that has a detent 236 that interfaces with a detentreceiver recess 238 formed along the sidewall of the brush shaft 120. Inthis exemplary embodiment, the shaft clip 234 is formed as part of aseal retainer 230 that retains a U-cup seal 323 within the brush tip 125against the alignment insert 222. The U-cup seal 232 forms a fluid-tightseal between the brush shaft 120 and the brush tip 125. The shaftretainer 230 may be formed extending from a living hinge molded as partof the sidewall of the seal retainer 230. The shaft clip 234 is biasedradially inward in order to engage the detent 236 with the detentreceiver 238 in the brush shaft 120. A release arm 235 of the shaft clip234 make extend through an opening 237 in the sidewall of the brush tip125 to allow a user to place reverse bias pressure on the shaft clip 234and release the detent 236 from the detent receiver 238 in the brushshaft 120 to allow for removal of the brush tip 125.

When the brush tip 125 is installed on the brush shaft 120 and a waterflosser function is selected by the user by pressing one or more of thecontrol buttons 122 a, 122 b in an appropriate control sequence, or byturning on the water flosser base unit, water from the base unit ispumped through the external connector 212, through the transport hose202 within the handle 111, through the rocker arm 148, through the brushshaft 120, through the fluid channel 221 in the brush tip 125, into thebrush head 224, and out through the nozzle tip 228 mounted amongst thebristles 127 in the bristle base insert 226. It may be noted that themechanically driven, sonic toothbrush and water flosser device 110 couldalso make use of a separate, unique flosser tip in addition to, orinstead of, the brush head 224 with integral nozzle tip 228.

Another exemplary implementation of a combination mechanically-driven,sonic toothbrush and water flosser 310 is presented in FIGS. 12A-32. Asshown in FIGS. 12A-12C, the combination sonic toothbrush and flosser 310is composed of a handle 311 and a removable brush tip 325. For purposesof reference, the distal end of the toothbrush/flosser 310 may bereferred to as the brush end 312 and the proximal end may be referred toas a base end 314.

The handle 311 may be defined by a housing 316 that generally extendsbetween the base end 314 and the brush end 312. The housing 316 may begenerally cylindrical in shape to ergonomically fit in the hand of auser, but it may be formed in any other desirable ergonomic shapes. Thecylindrical shape may begin to taper ballistically in the direction ofthe brush end 312 approximately one third the length of the housing 316from the brush end 312. Elastomeric grip panels 315 may be overmouldedinto oblong recesses 375 along the lateral sides of the housing 316 inorder to provide a user with a comfortable grip that is less slipperywhen in use in a potentially wet environment.

The housing 316 may expose one or more actuation button covers 322 a/bcovering switches used to activate and control the functionality of thetoothbrush/flosser 310. A face plate 323 may be supported on the housing316 in a region extending about the control button covers 322 a/b aseither a separate plate or as an overmolded surface on the housing 316.The face plate 323 may further expose through one or more lightapertures 319 or transparent areas one or more status indicators, e.g.,LEDs, for indicating to a user a mode or status of operation of thetoothbrush/flosser 310. Exemplary modes may be off, low speed, highspeed, or water flosser mode, or some combination thereof. Exemplarystatus indications may be low battery, charging, and fully chargedbattery.

A removable base 318 may be attached to the base end 314 of the housing316. A pair of release levers 313 may extend from lateral slots in theremovable base 318 that may be operated by a user to release theremovable base 318 from the housing 316. A fluid inlet 414 may extendfrom a portion of the removable base 318 for connection with a hose (notshown) that is connected to a water flosser bas unit (not shown). Ananti-roll bumper 454 may extend from a sidewall of the housing 316 toaid in preventing the toothbrush/flosser 310 from rolling off a counteror other surface if the toothbrush/flosser 310 is laid on its side.

The brush tip 325 may extend distally to form a brush head 424 fromwhich a plurality of bristle tufts 327 may extend. In addition to thebristle tufts, a water jet nozzle 428 may extend from the brush head424. A cover panel 426 may be provided on the rear of the brush tip 325opposite the bristles 327 in order to aid in the assembly of the flossernozzle 428. A release button 434 may be provided at a base of the brushtip 325 in order to release the brush tip 325 from the brush shaft 320extending from the handle 311 as further described herein below. Thebrush tip 325 may further be provided with a color coded ring 448 at thebase of the brush tip 325 or with some other coding scheme in anylocation on the brush tip 325 to allow multiple users to use thetoothbrush/flosser 310 by easily identifying a personal brush tip thatcan be placed on the handle 311 after removing the brush tip of anotheruser.

As shown in FIG. 12C and mentioned above, both the brush tip 325 and thebase 318 of the toothbrush/flosser 310 may be removed from the handle311. In addition to providing for multiple users, it is also desirablethat the brush tip 325 be removable because the bristles 327 wear ourafter several months of use and it is therefore desirable for a user topurchase replacement brush tips 325 with new bristles 327 on a regularbasis. The base 318 is removable to allow the handle 311 to be placed onan inductive charging unit (not shown) as further described below.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15A, the handle 311 may be composed of severaldifferent elements. The housing 316 as previously described is generallybullet-shaped. Two laterally opposed recesses 375 in the sidewall of thehousing 316 on the lateral sides of the face plate 323 receive theovermould grips 315 a/b. In some implementations, the grips 315 a/b maybe molded separately and adhered to the housing 316 with an adhesive.The housing 316 is a hollow shell that houses the functional componentsof the toothbrush/flosser system 310. A large, generally circular,bottom opening 380 is provided at the base end 314 of the housing 316and a small circular opening is provided at the brush end 312 of thehousing 316. A raised ring 378 may be formed on a top surface of thehousing 316 to help provide alignment for engagement with the removablebrush tip 325. An arched cutout 304 may be formed within the housing 316on the back side at the base end 314 spaced laterally between the grips315. (See FIGS. 1B and 17) in order to accommodate features of theremovable base 318 as further described below. A pair of adjacent clipapertures (not visible) may also be formed in the back side of thehousing 316 above the arched cutout 304. The housing 316 further definesa control system window 376 within a front surface of the housing 316.The control system window 376 may be oblong in shape and extend along amajority of the length of the housing 316 (about the same length as thegrips 315 a/b in the embodiment shown). A window cover recess 377 may beformed in the wall of the housing 316 around the control system window376 as a depression in the surface of the housing 316 similar to thegrip recesses 375.

A hermetic cover 381 may be placed within the control system window 376from the inside of the housing 316 such that a raised window panel 382conforming in size and shape to the control system window 376 fitsthrough the control system window 376. The raised window panel 382 mayextend from an edge flange 383 of the hermetic cover 381 at a thicknesscongruent to a thickness of the housing 316 through the area of thewindow cover recess 377. Thus, a top surface of the raised window panel382 is flush with the window cover recess 377. The edge flange 383extends beyond the perimeter of the control system window 377 tointerface with an interior surface of the housing 316 surrounding thecontrol system window 376. The edge flange 383 may be ultrasonicallywelded or otherwise adhered to the inner surface of the housing 316 tocreate a fluid tight seal between the hermetic cover 381 and the housing316.

In this exemplary embodiment, the hermetic cover 381 may be made of atransparent plastic material in order to allow for transmission of LEDlight to the light apertures 319 in the face plate 323 noted above. Thehermetic cover 381 may further define button apertures 384 a/b withinthe window panel 382. The control button covers 322 a/b fit within andseal against the sidewalls defining the apertures 384 a/b. The controlbutton covers 322 a/b may be moulded or otherwise formed of anelastomeric material. The control button covers 322 a/b may beovermoulded or adhered to the hermetic cover 381 in order to create afluid tight seal.

A housing plate 385 of the same size and shape as the window coverrecess 377 and having a thickness slightly less than congruent to adepth of the window cover recess 337 may be placed on top of thehermetic cover 381 and ultrasonically welded, adhered, or otherwiseattached to the window cover recess 377 and the window panel 382 of thehermetic cover 381. The housing plate 385 thereby provides additionalprotection from fluids to the components inside the housing 316.Additional button cover apertures 386 a/b may be formed in the housingplate 385 through which the control button covers 322 a/b extend foraccess by a user. The housing plate 385 may be made of a transparentplastic material in order to allow for transmission of LED light to thelight apertures 319 in the face plate 323 noted above.

The face plate 323 introduced above may be placed over the housing plate385 and adhered, ultrasonically welded, or otherwise fastened thereto.The face plate 323 may define button cover apertures 387 a/b throughwhich the control button covers 322 a/b extend for access by a user. Theface plate 323 may be formed of a transparent plastic material, however,a surface of the face plate 323 may be coated with an opaque color ortint while areas of the coating may be removed or etched in relief inorder to allow transmission of light through certain areas of the faceplate 323. In another implementation, the material forming the faceplate 323 may be formed with a pigment that is activated (ordeactivated) in response to a stimulus and areas of the face plate maybe fixed in a transparent state while other areas are fixed as opaque.For example, as shown in FIG. 15A, mode indicators 388 for the states ofhigh speed brushing, low speed brushing, and water flosser, eitherindependently or the latter in conjunction with one or the other of thetwo prior, may be provided in etched or screened openings in the faceplate 323. Additionally, as shown, the light apertures 319 could beformed as transparent areas in the opaque coating or material.Alternatively, the light apertures 319 could be formed as actualapertures in the face plate 323.

The internal components of the toothbrush/flosser 310 are shownassembled with the housing 316 removed in FIGS. 13A and 13B, assembledin cross section in FIG. 14, and separately in the exploded views ofFIGS. 15A-15C. Beginning at the base end 314, the removable base 318 isformed of several components. A generally circular base plate 390 and abase cap 389 are joined together sandwiching a latch plate 391therebetween to form the removable base 318. These components may alsobe seen in the enlarged views of FIGS. 16-19B detailing the removablebase 318 in a connected configuration and in a disconnectedconfiguration, respectively.

The bottom surface of the base plate 390 may be flat as shown in orderto stand the toothbrush/flosser 310 upright on a flat surface when notin use. A sidewall of the base plate may define a pair of arcuate leverrecesses 395 laterally disposed from each other to provide clearance foraccess to and movement of the base release levers 313 on the latch plate391. A fluid channel 396 may be formed on a top surface of the baseplate 390. In the embodiment shown, a stepped wall 309 in the shape of akeyway positioned between the lever recesses 395 and having an open end308 directed radially outward from the center of the base plate 390 maydefine the fluid channel 396. A closed end 307 opposite the open end maybe generally circular in shape and extend around a center of the baseplate 390. A spring alignment post 499 may extend normally from the topsurface of the base plate 390 within the center of the circular section(closed end 307) of the stepped wall 309 defining the fluid channel 396.

The latch plate 391 may be positioned on top of the base plate 390. Thelatch plate 391 may be generally circular in form with a wedge- orarc-section-shaped channel cutout 397 positioned between the releaselevers 313 about the circumference of the latch plate 391. The channelcutout 397 extends as a circular area from the wedge-shaped portion inthe center of the latch plate 391. The channel cutout 397 may thus beformed to fit around the stepped walls 309 forming the fluid channel 396in the base plate 390. As noted, the base release levers 313 may extendfrom lateral sides of the latch plate 391 and reside within the leverrecesses 395 in the base plate 390. The area defined by the channelcutout 397 may be slightly larger than the width of the fluid channel.Similarly, the arc length of the lever recesses 395 may be slightlylonger than the length of the release levers 313. This difference insize of the components allows the latch plate 391 to rotate or pivotback and forth a short and constrained travel distance with respect tothe base plate 390.

A number of latch apertures 306 (in this exemplary implementation thereare three) may be formed in the body of the latch plate 391. A number oflatch fingers 398 (in this exemplary implementation there are three)extend with the latch apertures 306 and a portion of each of the latchfingers 398 also extends above a top surface of the latch plate 391spaced around the center portion of the channel cutout 397. A springpost 399 may extend normally from a bottom surface of the latch plate391 adjacent to one of the release levers 313. A post aperture 305 mayalso be formed in the body of the latch plate 391 between two of thelatch apertures 306. The post aperture 305 may be formed in an oblong,arcuate shape.

The base cap 389 may be formed with a bottom sidewall 461 that defines agenerally circular cavity on the bottom side of the base cap 389. A pairof laterally positioned lever cutouts 457 may be formed in the sidewall461 to provide clearance for access to and movement of the base releaselevers 313 on the latch plate 391. The arc length of the lever cutouts457 may be slightly longer than the length of the release levers 313.This difference in size of the components allows the latch plate 391 torotate or pivot back and forth a short and constrained travel distancewith respect to the base cap 389. A number of boot-shaped latch slots458 (in this exemplary implementation there are three) may be formed inthe top surface of the base cap 389. A spring post 499 may extend from abottom surface of the base cap 389 and be positioned to extend throughthe post aperture 305 in the latch plate 391. A mating wall 302 in asymmetrical form to the stepped wall 309 forming the fluid channel 396in the base plate 390 may extend from the bottom surface of the base cap389. (See FIGS. 19A and 19B.) The mating wall 302 is configured to fitaround the upper, inner step of the stepped wall 309 and mate face toface with the lower, outer step of the stepped wall 309 to cap the fluidchannel 396.

A valve post 459 may be formed as a cylindrical extension centered onand normal to the top surface of the base cap 389. The valve post 459defines a cavity that is open through the bottom of the base cap 389.Several ribs 301 may be formed along the inner walls of the cavitywithin the valve post 459. A post aperture 462 is also formed in the topof the valve post 459 to provide a fluid outlet from the cavity definedby the valve post 459. A fluid channel casing 460 may extend normallyfrom the top of the base cap 389 along a circumferential edge thereofpositioned laterally on the circumferential edge between the levercutouts 457. In this exemplary implementation, the fluid channel casing460 is in the form of an arch with a curved inner wall following theouter circumference of the base cap 389 at a shorter radius than theouter circumference. An outer wall of the fluid channel casing 460 isalso curved to match the circumference of the base plate 390 which itabuts when the removable base 318 is fully assembled. A pair of guideflanges 463 may further extend laterally from the sides of the fluidchannel casing 460. The inlet port 414 extends from the outer wall ofthe fluid channel casing 460. The inlet port 414 may have a barbed tipin order to create a secure, fluid-tight seal with a fluid hose from abase pump and reservoir unit (not shown). The fluid channel casing 460defines a fluid channel 351 therein that provides fluid communicationbetween the inlet port 414 and the fluid channel 396.

A barrel shaped lower poppet 394 is housed within the cavity defined bythe valve post 459 and is biased against the top wall of the valve post459 by a lower poppet spring 393 when the removable base 318 is in aremoved configuration. The ribs 301 on this inner wall of the valve post459 center the lower poppet 394 within the cavity to allow for fluidflow around the lower poppet 394, between the lower poppet 394 and theinner wall of the valve post 459. The lower poppet spring 393 isretained around the spring post 499 extending from the base plate 390within the center of the fluid channel 396. A top end of the lowerpoppet spring 393 seats within a cylindrical cavity 500 in the bottom ofthe lower poppet 394. A shallow recess 501 may further be formed withina top surface of the lower poppet 394. The top edge of the lower poppet394 may be beveled to form a sealing surface 464 that seals against thetop wall of the valve post 459 defining the post aperture 462. The lowerpoppet 394 may be made of a dense rubber or other elastomeric material(i.e., an elastomer material with a relatively high elastic modulus) inorder to maintain its form while simultaneously providing a fluid-tightseal against the valve post 459. Alternatively, the lower poppet 394could be made of a plastic and coated with an elastomer on at least thesealing surface 464 in order to provide a fluid-tight seal.

The base cap 389 may be aligned with and placed over the latch plate 391such that the latch slots 458 generally align with the latch apertures306 in the latch plate 391. Portions of the latch fingers 398 of thelatch plate 391 may extend through the latch slots 458 in the base cap389. The spring post 499 extending from the bottom of the base cap 389may extend through the post aperture 305 in the latch plate 391. A latchspring 392 may be attached between the latch plate 391 and the baseplate 390 at a first end to the spring post 399 a extending from thebottom of the latch plate 391 and at a second end to the spring post 499extending from the bottom of the base cap 389. The base cap 389 may beultrasonically welded or adhered to the base plate 390 to ensure afluid-tight seal between the mating wall 302 and the stepped wall 309forming the fluid channel 396. The sidewall 461 and the spring post 499of the base cap 389 may also be joined to the top surface of the baseplate 390. As the diameter of the base plate 390 is slightly larger thanthe diameter of the sidewall 461, a lip or flange of the base plate 390remains exposed over portions of the perimeter of the base plate 390.This exposed lip or flange mates against the bottom edge of the housing316 when the removable base 318 is attached to the handle 311 to cap thebottom opening 380 in the housing 316. When the base plate 390 and basecap 389 are joined together, the latch plate 391 and lower poppet valve394 and their corresponding springs 392, 393 are housed therein. Thelatch plate 391 is able to pivot between the base cap 389 and the baseplate 390 and the lower poppet is able to move within the valve post 459and the center of the fluid channel 396.

The removable base 318 mates with a coil bobbin 400 when it is attachedto the handle 311. The coil bobbin 400 is a generally cylindricalstructure that defines an outer winding surface 409 around which aninduction charging coil 328 is wound. A retainer flange 401 extendsradially outward to form a top boundary of the winding surface 409. Abase flange 402 similarly extends radially outward to define a bottomboundary of the winding surface 409. The base flange 402 is larger indiameter than the retainer flange 401. An arcuate cutout 505 is formedin an edge of the base flange 402 on a back side of the coil bobbin 400in order to accommodate the inner arcuate wall of the fluid channelcasing 460 of the removable base 318. An alignment recess 407 is alsoformed in the edge of the base flange 402 on the front side opposite thearcuate cutout 505. A circumferential groove 506 (interrupted by thearcuate cutout 505) is formed in a top surface of the base flange 402. Anumber of latch feet 403 (in this exemplary implementation there arethree) may extend normally from a bottom surface of the base flange 402arranged and positioned to align with the latch slots 458 in theremovable base 318.

The coil bobbin 400 further defines a stepped cavity on the base end 314that receives the valve post 459 of the removable base 318 and alsoserves as an induction charging port 317 when the removable base 318 isremoved. The charging port 317 receives a coil seal 335 (e.g., a cupseal) in a middle step between a smaller diameter of the charging port317 that closely fits the valve post 459 and a larger diameter of thecharging port 317 that receives an annular seal retainer 408 that holdsthe coil seal 335 in place. The seal retainer 408 may be press fit intothe largest diameter shelf or step of the charging port 317 and sitflush with a base surface of the coil bobbin 400. The seal retainer 408may further act as an energy director to aid in the inductive chargingof the toothbrush/flosser 310.

A circular, angled mounting surface 404 may be formed as the top portionof the coil bobbin 400 above the retainer flange 401. The mountingsurface 404 is offset from a front edge of the retainer flange 401 butextends to be almost congruent with a back edge of the retainer flange.The mounting surface 404 angles downward from the front edge to the backedge. A conduit wall 405 extends from the mounting surface 404 normallywith respect to the retainer flange 401 and defines a fluid outlet 406that is in fluid communication with the induction charging port 317 viaa bobbin aperture 504 formed therebetween. A back section of the conduitwall 405 is notched and several ribs 503 are positioned vertically alongthe inner surface of the conduit wall 405.

A bobbin cap 410 seals against the mounting surface 404 of the coilbobbin 400. The bobbin cap 410 is formed with a flat seal plate 466 atits base that forms an opposing surface at a congruent angle with themounting surface 404. A spring post 468 is formed above the seal plate466 and defines a cavity therein that fits over the conduit wall 405extending above the mounting surface 404. A tubular fluid connector 467extends upward from a back side of the bobbin cap 410 and defines afluid lumen 508 that is in fluid communication with the cavity under thespring post 468. When the bobbin cap 410 is joined to the mountingsurface 404 of the coil bobbin 400 (e.g., by ultrasonic welding), afluid-tight fluid passage is formed between the fluid outlet 406 in theconduit wall 405 and the fluid lumen 508. An outer surface at the end ofthe fluid connector 467 may be formed as a connector barb 469. Acompression spring 465 seats around an outer surface of the spring post468 on the bobbin cap 410.

An upper poppet 412 may also be positioned within the fluid outlet 406defined by the conduit wall 405. The upper poppet 412 may have adownward extending plunger 413 that extends through the bobbin aperture504 and an upward extending post 419 that receives an upper poppetspring 411. The upper poppet spring 411 may extend into the cavitydefined by the spring post 468 in the bobbin cap 410. An annular recessmay be defined in a top surface of the upper poppet 412 around the post419 to further confine the upper poppet spring 411. A lower surface ofthe upper poppet 412 may be beveled to form a sealing surface 417 thatcreates a fluid-tight seal with the wall defining the bobbin aperture504 when biased downward by the upper poppet spring 411 when theremovable base 318 is removed from the handle 311. The upper poppet 412may be made of a dense rubber or other elastomeric material (i.e., anelastomer material with a relatively high elastic modulus) in order tomaintain its form while simultaneously providing a fluid-tight sealagainst the bobbin aperture 504. Alternatively, the upper poppet 412could be made of a plastic and coated with an elastomer on at least thesealing surface 417 in order to provide a fluid-tight seal. The ribs 503lining the inner surface of the conduit wall 405 center the upper poppet412 within the cavity to allow for fluid flow around the upper poppet412 to exit through the fluid outlet 406 in the coil bobbin.

A base cover 359 is a generally cylindrical structure that seats aroundthe coil bobbin 400 and the bobbin cap 410. A vent hole 360 is formed inthe front wall of the base cover 359 to vent any pressure that may buildup if the certain components (e.g., batteries or the motor) malfunction(e.g., break down and release chemical fumes or overheat). The vent hole360 may also act as a weep hole indicating a failure of a fluid sealwithin the handle 311. Any fluids (gases or liquids) escaping throughthe vent hole 360 will escape from the bottom end 314 of the housing316. An annular recess adjacent a top edge of the base cover 359functions as a seal retainer 471 and receives a base cap seal 361 (e.g.,an O-ring) that seals the base cover 359 against an interior surface ofthe housing 316. A flange 473 immediately adjacent a top edge of thebase cover 359 retains the base cap seal 361 in the seal retainer 471.Several clip recesses 472 may be formed in the flange 473 to aid inconnecting the base cover 359 to other structures as further describedbelow. Additionally, opposing shelves (not shown) may be formed on aninner wall of the base cover 359 generally at the same positionlongitudinally as the vent hole 360 on the lateral sidewalls withrespect thereto to further aid in connecting the base cover 359 to otherstructures as further described below.

The bottom edge of the base cover 359 may seat against the base flange402 of the coil bobbin 400. The bottom edge of the base cover 359 maydefine a small ridge 507 designed to mate with the groove 506 in the topsurface of the base flange 402. The ridge 507 and groove 506 may providefor positional alignment between the base cover 359 and the base flange400 and may further provide for a strong bond between the bottom edge ofthe base cover 359 and the base flange 402 when they are joined together(e.g., by ultrasonic welding). The alignment tab 470 extending from thebottom edge of the base cover 359 may also mate with the alignmentrecess 407 in the front edge of the base flange 402 to additionallyalign the base cover 359 on the coil bobbin 400. When the base cover 359is attached to the coil bobbin 400, the connector barb 469 on the fluidconnector 467 of the bobbin cap 410 extends above the top edge of thebase cover 359.

The back side of the base cover 359 may further define an arched recess479 sized and shaped to fit around the arch-shaped fluid channel casing460 of the removable base 318. A horizontal channel 303 may also beformed in the back side of the base cover 359 above the arched recess479. The horizontal channel 303 receives a pair clips 456 extending froman anti-roll bumper base 455 covered by the anti-roll bumper 454, whichmay be formed of an elastomeric material in order to provide africtional grip against a surface. The anti-roll bumper 454 may beovermoulded on, adhered to, or press fit over the anti-roll base 455.The surface of the anti-roll base 455 may be knurled, fluted, orotherwise textured to provide a stronger bonding surface with theanti-roll bumper 454. Likewise, the anti-roll bumper 454, if formedseparately, may be formed with an internal cavity that conforms to thesurface shape of the anti-roll base 455. The clips 456 extend throughthe pair of clip apertures (not visible) in the housing 316 above thearched cutout 304 and may be press fit, adhered, or ultrasonicallywelded within the horizontal channel 303 in the base cover 359 to fastenthe anti-roll bumper 454 to the handle 311.

As best depicted in FIGS. 14, 15C, and 16, a battery carrier 326 housinga battery pack 330 of rechargeable batteries may be mounted immediatelyabove and connected to the base cover 359. The battery pack 330 may use2 AA or 2AAA sized rechargeable batteries or any other size orconfiguration of batteries that may be appropriate to drive thetoothbrush/flosser 310. The battery pack 330 may be contained within aframework of the battery carrier 326 forming a battery cage 373. Aspacer cavity 349 is formed on the top of the battery carrier 326 abovethe battery pack 330 by a top plate 509 and a wall serving as a chassismount 510. A number of mounting pins 348 may extend from a front side ofthe battery cage 373. A number of clip feet 346 (four in the exemplaryembodiment) may extend downward from the bottom of the battery cage 373and a number of side clips 347 may be provided on the lateral sides ofthe battery cage 373.

The battery carrier 326 may be attached to the base cover 359 by slidingthe clip feet 346 along the inner wall of the base cover until the clipfeet 346 engage the opposing shelves (not shown) formed on the innerwall of the base cover 359. Simultaneously, the side clips 347 may slidewithin the clip recesses 472 in the flange 473 at the top edge of thebase cover 359 to appropriately align the battery carrier 326 withrespect to the base cover 359. The battery carrier 326 is therebysecured to the base cover 359. The compression spring 465 mounted on thebobbin cap 410 may bias the battery pack 330 upward within the batterycarrier 326 to abut the bottom surface of the top plate 509.

A lower portion of a circuit board 334 is mounted to the mounting pins348 extending from the front side of the battery carrier 326 as bestdepicted in FIGS. 13A, 14, and 15C. The circuit board 334 may bepositioned underneath the hermetic cover 381 mounted within the controlsystem window 376 in the housing 316 and extend generally the length ofthe control system window 376. In addition to a microcontroller device(not shown) and a capacitor 333 (to reduce electrical noise in thevoltage step-up portion of the control circuit), a number of componentsunder control of the microcontroller may be mounted on the circuit board334 and electrically connected to a circuit printed on the circuit board334 to control the functionality of the toothbrush/flosser 310. Forexample, a number of LEDs 341 may be mounted to the circuit board 334 toprovide operational mode and status information to a user. One or morelight guides 339 a/b may be mounted over the LEDs 341 in order tocontain and collimate the light emitted by the LEDs and direct the lightthrough the hermetic cover 381 and housing plate 385 to illuminate themode indicators 388 and LED apertures 319 in the face plate 323. Thelight guides 339 a/b may be formed with specifically shaped aperturesthat are positioned to fit around the LEDs 341. In this exemplaryimplementation, the upper light guide 339 a may direct light from theLEDs 341 to specifically illuminate the mode indicators 388 (e.g., highspeed brush, low speed brush, water flosser, and off as noted above).Also as shown in this implementation, the lower light guide 339 b maydirect light from the LEDs 341 to the LED apertures 319 to provide anindication of the power level of the battery pack 330 so the user willknow when the battery pack 330 needs to be recharged. Additionally, thelight guides may be made from rubber and thus act to damp vibrationtransfer from the motor 332 to the housing 316.

A pair of switches 345 a/b may also be mounted on the circuit board 334directly underneath respective button covers 322 a/b. The button covers322 a/b may be flexible enough to allow a user to depress the buttoncovers 322 a/b and contact the switches underneath. Alternatively, thebutton covers 322 a/b could be formed with posts that extend below thecovers to actuate the switches 345 a/b if the depth beneath the buttoncovers 322 a/b is too great. The switches 345 a/b may be cycle switchesused to select and control the various modes or functions of thetoothbrush/flosser 310. For example, one switch might turn thetoothbrush function on to a low speed from off with a first actuation,then to high speed with a second actuation, then to off with a thirdactuation. The second switch might be used to separately control thewater pump in the base unit by turning the pump on at a low speed pulsewith a first actuation, selecting a high speed pulse with a secondactuation, and turning the pump in the base unit off with a thirdactuation. In some implementations, both the tooth brush function andthe flosser function may be operable at the same time. In someimplementations, an RF transmitter or transceiver (not shown) may bemounted on the circuit board 334 and connected to one of the switchesfor wireless control of a base unit equipped with an RF receiver ortransceiver linked to its control system. In other implementations,other short range wireless protocols could be implemented, (e.g., usingBluetooth transceivers in the handle 311 and base unit). In otherimplementations, the handle 311 may be directly wired to the base unitto exercise control of the base unit. The wires may be separate from orincorporated with the fluid hose connected between the fluid inlet 414and the base unit.

A pair of battery leads 331 a/b may be connected to terminals of thebatteries and extend to connect with the inductive charging coil 328 inorder to recharge the battery pack 330. A separate pair of electricalleads may further connect the battery pack to the circuit board 334 forpowering the control system, LED lights 341 and the motor 332.Alternatively, the battery leads 331 a/b may be connected to terminalson the circuit board 334 to allow for microcontroller control of thecharging process or to provide a conditioning circuit for the chargingenergy before it is connected to the battery pack 330.

As best depicted in FIGS. 13A, 13B, 14, 15C, 20A, and 20B, a bottom endof a drive train chassis 324 may be connected to the chassis mount 510on the top of the battery carrier 326, e.g., by one or more screws, andextend upward therefrom. A motor 332 may be mounted within a motor tray474 defined within a lower section of the chassis 324 such that themotor 332 is positioned directly above the spacer cavity 349 on the topof the battery carrier 326. A motor mount 475 may extend forwardtransverse to the longitudinal form of the chassis 324. The motor mount475 may be secured to a top surface of the motor 332 by one or morefasteners, e.g., set screws that pass through apertures in the motormount 475 and screw into threaded mounting apertures 511 in the topsurface of the motor 332. When the motor 332 is anchored to the motormount 475 on the chassis 324, the base of the motor 332 is positionednominally within the spacer cavity 349 such that the motor contacts 421are protected within the spacer cavity 349 and can be connected byelectrical leads (not shown) to the circuit board 334.

A vibration isolator 356 may be placed about the base of the chassis 324at the joint with the battery carrier 326. The vibration isolator 356further extends around the wall forming the chassis mount 510 on thebattery carrier 326. The vibration isolator 356 may be formed of rubberor another elastomeric material and fills the gap between the chassis324 and battery carrier 326 and the housing 316 to dampen the vibrationof the motor 332 that otherwise may be imparted to the housing. Thevibration isolator 356 also provides a soft mounting structure for thebase of the drive train 336 with respect to the housing 316 rather thanattaching the chassis 324 directly to a structure on the housing 316.The vibration isolator 356 also provides clocking (anti-rotation) forboth the drive assembly 336 and the battery carrier 326. The vibrationisolator 356 isolator also forms an isolator clamp 415 n a back side ofthe chassis 324. This structure will be explained in greater detailbelow.

The motor mount 475 may further define a semi-circular shaft cutout 512to provide clearance around an output shaft 337 of the motor 332. In oneimplementation, a spacer plate 420 may further be placed on top of themotor mount 475 and secured to the motor mount 475 by the same setscrews connecting the motor mount 475 to the motor 332. The spacer plate420 may have a similar semi-circular cutout 513 as the motor mount 475in order to provide adequate clearance for the output shaft 337. Thespacer plate 420 may be made of metal in order to both provideadditional rigidity to the chassis 324 where the motor 332 is mountedand also to provide a long wearing surface adjacent the connectionbetween the motor 332 and a drive assembly 336 should some of thecomponents unintentionally interface with the spacer plate 420.

The chassis 324 further extends above the motor mount 475 to provideadditional structural support for the drive assembly 336. The driveassembly 336, which is best depicted in FIGS. 13A, 13B, 14, 15C, and20A-25B, includes an eccentric cam 353 that is press fit onto the outputshaft 337 of the motor 332. As shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, the eccentriccam 353 is formed with a cam post 366 extending off center from a topsurface of a disk base 515. A shaft bore 514 extends through both thedisk base 515 and the cam post 366 and receives the output shaft 337 ofthe motor 332. The shaft bore 514 is centered within the disk base 515;however, because the cam post 366 is offset with respect to the diskbase 515, the shaft bore 514 is off center with respect to the cam post366, thus defining the outer surface of the cam post 366 as a camsurface. The disk base 515 is provided to balance the eccentric cam 353both longitudinally and radially with respect to the output shaft 337 toreduce the potential for motor vibration. Motor vibration is undesirablemechanically because it causes significant wear on the components of thedrive system 336, it results in a larger load and strain on the motor332, it results in greater battery drain, and it transfers vibrationthrough the handle 311 to the user. The disk base 515 may also be formedwith one or more balance recesses (not shown) in order to remove anappropriate amount of mass at appropriate locations to refine thebalance on the output shaft 337.

A dog bone coupler 352 may be connected with the cam post 366 as thefirst link in a four bar linkage in order to drive the drive system 336with the motor 332. A support bushing 354 may be seated within a camaperture 365 of the dog bone coupler 352 and press fit around the campost 366. In one exemplary embodiment, a bearing race of ball bearings,needle bearings, or any other appropriate friction reducing structuremay be substituted as the support bushing 354. As shown, the outputshaft 337 may extend entirely through and above the eccentric cam 353.An end bushing 367 may be placed on the end of the output shaft 337above the cam bushing 354 to hold the cam bushing 354 and the eccentricpost 366 in place. The chassis 324 may further provide an eccentric capbracket 476 that extends horizontally outward from a frame of chassis324 in the form of a shelf with a disk-shaped eccentric cap aperture 517that is positioned on top of the end bushing 367. In some embodiments,the end bushing 367 may be press fit within the eccentric cap aperture517. The eccentric cap bracket 476 helps prevent wobble that could begenerated by the motor 332 or the output shaft 337 that result from onlyhaving a single point of restraint on the output shaft 337. It should beconsidered that the disk base 515 may also be used to take into accountthe mass of the support bushing 354, the end bushing 367, and the dogbone coupler 352 on the balance of the output shaft 337 and any balancerecess in the disk base 515 can be sized and shaped to do so.

The second half of the dog bone coupler 352 defines a drive aperture 369that receives a drive bushing 368 press fit therein, which in turnreceives a lower end of a rocker drive shaft 372 press fit therein. Therocker drive shaft 372 is thus able to freely pivot with low resistancewithin the drive aperture 369. An upper end of the rocker drive shaft372 is received in a driver nubbin 371 extending from a rear surface ofa rocker arm 350. The rocker arm 350 is positioned above and offset fromthe output shaft 337. In the exemplary implementation shown, the rockerdrive shaft 372 is a cylindrical pin that may be press fit intoreceiving aperture in the driver nubbin 371. In exemplary alternativeembodiments, the rocker drive shaft 372 may have a keyed or knurledshape that fits within a correspondingly shaped aperture in the drivernubbin 371 to prevent rotation or slippage there between, limiting anyrotation to the dog bone coupler 352 around the bottom portion of therocker drive shaft 372. In yet another embodiment, the upper portion ofthe rocker drive shaft 372 may be keyed and the rocker arm 350 may beinsert molded around the upper portion of the rocker drive shaft 372,thereby preventing relative movement or slippage therebetween.

A front surface of the rocker arm 350 may define an aperture or shaftcavity 363 into which the brush shaft 320 is inserted and mechanicallyconnected. The shaft cavity 363 is aligned with an axis A parallel to,but offset from, an axis B of the rocker drive shaft 372 on the oppositeside of the rocker arm 350. The rear or distal end of the brush shaft320 inserted into the shaft cavity 363 may be keyed and fit within areciprocal keyway formed in the shaft cavity 363 in order to preventrotation between the brush shaft 320 and the rocker arm 350. In someimplementations, the brush shaft 320 may be ultrasonically welded to therocker arm 350. In other implementations, the rocker arm 350 may beinsert molded about the brush shaft 350 to form a strong bond betweenthe two components. In any of these ways, the output shaft 337 of themotor 332 is thereby coupled with the rocker arm 350 via the dog bonecoupler 352 and further to the brush shaft 320 via the rocker arm 350,forming a four-bar linkage.

Similar to the eccentric cam 353, the rocker arm 350 may be formed withadditional mass used to balance the rocker arm 350 about the brush shaft350 to minimize undesired wobble or vibration in the brush shaft. Asshown in the figures, this additional mass may be modeled and molded inan appropriate form and position on the rocker arm 350. In theembodiment shown, a balance arm 362 is molded to extend from the body ofthe rocker arm 350. An aperture is formed in the balance arm 362 inorder to receive additional mass elements of different density in orderto appropriately balance the rocker arm 350 for different configurationsof the toothbrush/flosser device 310.

In this implementation, the rocker arm 350 further defines a fluidpassage 518 that extends from an inlet barb 370, which is orientedgenerally parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis of thetoothbrush/flosser device 110, and bends laterally across the rocker arm350 to intersect with the shaft cavity 363. The brush shaft 320 mountedwithin the shaft cavity 363 of the rocker arm 350 may have a keyed fluidinlet 486 formed as a cutout in the sidewall of the brush shaft 320 atthe proximal or rear end that is aligned with the lateral branch of thefluid passage 518 within the rocker arm 350, thereby allowing fluid toflow from fluid passage 518 in the rocker arm 148 into the fluid lumen452 in the brush shaft 320. In some embodiments, the rocker arm 350 maybe made of a moulded plastic material. In order to mould the transverseportion of the fluid passage 518 in the rocker arm 350, a mould insertis required to provide form to the fluid passage 518. Thus, an aperturein the sidewall of the rocker arm 350 remains where the transverse moldinsert was placed and removed. In such an implementation, a plug 364 maybe inserted into the aperture in the sidewall of the rocker arm 350 toseal the fluid passage 518. The plug 364 may be fixed in place with anadhesive or ultrasonically welded in place in the rocker arm 350.

The outer diameter of the brush shaft 320 varies between the base end314 and the brush end 312. Starting at the based end 314, the brushshaft 320 may have a rocker connection 485 of a first diameter that isconfigured to seat within the shaft aperture 363 in the rocker arm 350.Moving toward the brush end 312, the brush shaft 320 may have a firstbearing mount 487 a of a second diameter larger than the first uponwhich a rear bearing race 340 is press fit. The brush shaft 320 may havea bearing separator section 388 of a third diameter larger than thesecond that prevents movement of the rear bearing race 340 in a distaldirection. A balance weight 491 in the form of a cylinder may further beplaced around the bearing separator section 388 of the brush shaft 320if additional balancing of the brush shaft 320 is desired. The brushshaft 320 may have a second bearing mount 487 b of a fourth diameterthat is equal to the second upon which a front bearing race 342 is pressfit. The widths of the first and second bearing mounts 487 a/b maygenerally be congruent with the widths of the bearing races 340, 342.The balance weight 491 may have a length that is shorter than thedistance between the first and second bearing mounts 487 a/b.

The chassis 324 may extend from the eccentric cap 476 to support certainsections of the brush shaft 320. A rear pillow block 447 may be formedin the chassis 324 and align with and conform to the outer diameter ofthe rear bearing race 340. Similarly, a front pillow block 478 may beformed at the distal end of the chassis 324 and align with and conformto the outer diameter of the front bearing race 342. A shaft tray 479may be formed in the chassis 324 between the rear pillow block 340 andthe front pillow block 342 to support the balance weight. The shaft tray479 may conform to the outer diameter of the balance weight 491 or itmay be set off from the outer diameter of the balance weight 491 toensure that the brush shaft 320 has adequate rotational clearance.

A rear bearing bracket 344 may be fastened to the chassis 324 (e.g.,with screws) in alignment with the rear bearing race 340 and the rearpillow block 477 to hold the rear bearing race 340 in place. Similarly,a front bearing bracket 338 may be fastened to the chassis 324 (e.g.,with screws) through mount tabs 482 in alignment with the front bearingrace 342 and the front pillow block 478 to hold the front bearing race342 in place. In some embodiments, an O-ring or similar dampeningmaterial may be placed around the bearing races 340, 342 between themand the respective bearing brackets 338, 344 and pillow blocks 477, 478to dampen any transmission of vibration from the brush shaft 320 to thehousing 316 or from the motor 332 mounted on the chassis 324 to thebrush shaft 320. The rear bearing bracket 344 may further be formed witha circuit board support 480 (e.g., posts) that connect with the brushend 312 of the circuit board 334 to provide a set off distance from thedrive train 336. The front bearing mount 338 may further be formed withan annular boot mount 484 that slides around the distal end of the brushshaft 320 to a position adjacent the front bearing race 342. A sidewallof the front bearing mount 338 may also form a capacitor tray 481 tosupport the capacitor 333 connected to the brush end 312 of the circuitboard 334.

The brush shaft 320 may have a shaft seal section 351 of a fifthdiameter smaller than the fourth diameter that is sized to fit throughthe shaft aperture in the housing 316 and upon which a boot seal 321 ismounted. The base of the boot seal 321 may be connected to the bootmount 484 of the front bearing bracket 338. An annular rib 493 is formedon an inner wall of the boot seal 321 and fits within an annular recess483 in the boot mount 484 to secure the boot seal 321 to the frontbearing bracket 338. The boot seal 321 tapers in diameter toward itsdistal end such that a distal aperture 520 in the boot seal 321 fitssnugly against the brush shaft 320. An annular recess 492 is also formedin the boot seal 321 adjacent the distal aperture 520 within which aseal band 355 (e.g., a brass ring) is placed to clamp the boot seal 321to the shaft seal section 351 of the brush shaft 320.

A portion of the brush shaft 320 extends distally through the shaftaperture 379 in the housing 316. The exposed portion of the brush shaft320 defines an annular clip recess 489 toward a proximal or rear end andan alignment tip 490 at the distal or front end. The alignment tip 490may be take the form of one or more flattened or keyed surfaces that mayprovide appropriate alignment of the brush tip 325 with respect to thehandle 311 when the brush tip 325 is connected thereto.

A fluid tube 415 extends from the fluid connector 467 on the bobbin cap410 to the fluid port 370 on the rocker arm 350. The base end 314 of thefluid tube 415 fits over the connector barb 469 on the fluid connector467 and is fastened in place by a locking sleeve 416. Similarly, thebrush end 312 of the fluid tube 415 is positioned over the barb on thefluid port 370 and a locking sleeve 418 secures the connection. A tubeclamp 357 further holds a bottom portion of the fluid tube 415 againstthe battery carrier 326. The tube clamp 357 may be fastened to thebattery carrier 326 (e.g., with screws) and the fluid tube 415 isclamped between the two. Additionally, the fluid tube 415 is restrainedwithin the housing 316 by the isolator clamp 358 on the back of thevibration isolator 356. The isolator clamp 358 defines a channel betweentwo walls extending from the back of the vibration isolator 356 that areseparated by a small gap. The elastomeric material forming the vibrationisolator 356 is flexible such that the vibration isolator 356 can bebent to open the gap in the isolator clamp 358 wide enough to insert thefluid tube 415 into the isolator clamp 358. Alternatively, the fluidtube 415 could be advanced longitudinally through the isolator clamp 358from either end before it is connected to the connector barb 469 or thefluid port 370 on the rocker arm 350.

One of several exemplary brush tips 325 is depicted in greater detail inFIGS. 26-32. The brush tip 325 may be easily connected to ordisconnected from the brush shaft 320 extending from the brush end ofthe handle 311. The brush tip 325 is composed primarily of a tip shaft423 and a brush head 424. The tip shaft 423 defines a tip fluid passage440 therethrough to the brush head 424. The brush head 424 defines abristle base 427 composed of a plurality of recesses into which aplurality of bristle tufts 327 may be inserted and glued in place. Inaddition, the brush head 424 defines a nozzle aperture 425 that opens inthe bristle base 427 in an area surrounded by bristle tufts 327. Acolored ring 448 may be attached to the base of the tip shaft 423 toallow for multiple users of the toothbrush/flosser 310 to easilyidentify their personal brush tip 325 for attachment to the handle 311.The base of the tip shaft may define a recess with a retention groove446. The inner wall of the colored ring 448 may define a number ofretention detents 447 that may snap into the retention groove to retainthe colored ring 448 around the base of the brush tip 325.

An elastomeric water jet nozzle 428 is positioned within the nozzleaperture 425 and extends normal to the bristle base 427 approximatelythe same distance as the bristle tufts 327. The nozzle 428 defines afluid lumen, is generally conical, and tapers in diameter from its base,which is received in the nozzle aperture 425, to its tip. A cavity 523is formed in the back of the brush head 424 to provide access to thenozzle aperture 425 and a fluid flow connection between the nozzleaperture 425 and the tip fluid passage 440. The cavity 523 may beenclosed by a brush head plug 426 that snaps into the sidewalls definingthe cavity 523 and is ultrasonically welded or otherwise adhered toprovide a fluid-tight seal in the brush head 424.

A cylindrical recessed band 521 is formed in a sidewall of the nozzle428 adjacent the base, which thus appears as a raised band 522. Theouter diameter of the recessed band 521 is generally congruent with thediameter of the nozzle aperture 425 while the outer diameter of theraised band 522 is larger than the diameter of the nozzle aperture 425.When the nozzle 428 is inserted into the nozzle aperture 425 from thecavity 523 in the rear of the brush head 424, the recessed band 521 fitssnugly within the nozzle aperture 425 and the raised band 522 abuts theback of the bristle base 427, preventing the nozzle 428 from beingpushed through the nozzle aperture 425 when under pressure. In addition,a nozzle insert 429, e.g., a brass tube with a rear flange, may beinserted into the base of the nozzle 428 to prevent the nozzle 428 frombending or collapsing under high water pressure and contact with teethand thereby dislodging from the nozzle aperture 425.

An alignment mount 422 may be inserted into and permanently affixedwithin the tip fluid passage 440 from the base end 314 of the brush tip325. In the exemplary implementation shown, the alignment mount 422 maybe generally formed as a frustum with open sidewalls. A top ring 494 isjoined to a larger diameter bottom ring 495 by an alignment rib 496 onone side and a support rib 407 laterally opposed thereto. The alignmentrib 496 may mate with opposing structures within the sidewalls of thetip shaft 423 defining the inner diameter of the tip fluid passage 440to appropriately align the alignment insert 422 before the brush shaft320 is inserted. The top ring 494 defines an outlet aperture 451 fortransmitting fluid flow from the shaft outlet 452 into the tip fluidpassage 440. The bottom ring 495 defines a shaft aperture 452 forreceipt of the shaft tip 490. The inner side of the alignment rib 496mates with the alignment tip 490 on the brush shaft 320 in order toalign the brush tip 325 appropriately on the brush shaft 320.

A cup seal 432 may be inserted into the tip fluid passage 440 of thebrush shaft 320 after the alignment insert 422 and may be held in placeagainst the alignment insert 422 by a shaft retainer 430. In thisexemplary implementation, the shaft retainer 430 is formed as a seriesof stacked cylinders with decreasing diameters as they extend toward thebrush head 424. The shaft retainer 430 defines a retainer lumen 449through which the brush shaft 320 passes when the brush tip 325 isplaced on the handle 311. A number of short, beveled retainer posts 435extend outward from the sidewall of the base cylinder 525 of the largestdiameter. A pair of compression slots 431 is also formed within the basecylinder 525. As shown in FIG. 27, a number of retainer holes 434corresponding to the retainer posts 435 are formed in the tip shaft 423adjacent a base end thereof. When the base cylinder 525 is inserted intothe brush tip 325, the compression slots 431 allow the base cylinder 525to compress slightly so that the retainer posts 435 can enter the lumenof the tip shaft 423 and then expand again when the retainer posts 435seat within the retainer holes 434 to retain the shaft retainer 430within the tip shaft 423.

A button opening 445 is formed in a second cylinder 526 adjacent thebase cylinder 525 on the rear sidewall of the shaft retainer 430 thatextends through to the lumen 449. A clip slot 443 is also formed in thesidewall of the second cylinder 526 above the button opening 445. Theclip slot 443 extends transversely through the shaft retainer 430 andextends out the front wall as a smaller clip slot outlet 444. The clipslot 443 is configured to retain a spring retainer clip 438 therein tosecure the brush tip 325 to the brush shaft 320. The spring retainerclip 438 is formed from a piece of stiff wire to have a pair of cliparms 441 a/b that oppose each other and are joined at a clip arch 442.The free ends of the clip arms 441 a/b each form a reverse curve thatopens away from the other. As shown in FIG. 32, when installed in theclip slot, the clip arch 442 extends through the clip slot outlet 444,the middle sections of the clip arms 441 a/b are retained within theclip slot in the front wall, and the free ends of the clip arms 441 a/bare exposed outside of the second cylinder 526.

Portions of the second cylinder 526 above the clip slot 443, a thirdcylinder 527 above the second cylinder 526, and a top cylinder 528together define a lever recess 433 within the rear wall of the shaftretainer 430. An elastomeric release button 436 is mounted within abutton opening 529 in the back side of the tip shaft 423 that ispositioned directly across from the button opening 445 in the shaftretainer 430. A cantilevered clip lever 439 may extend downward withinthe button opening 529 from a top edge of the button opening 529 fromwhich it depends. The clip lever 439 is oriented longitudinally withinthe sidewall of the tip shaft 423 and is configured to bend inward underpressure of the release button 436 and then return to its longitudinalposition. The release button 436 may have a number of retaining features437 on its back side that interface with corresponding features on theclip lever 439 and tip shaft 423 to connect the release button 436 tothe tip shaft 423. In one exemplary embodiment, the release button 436may be adhered to the clip lever 439 and compliance fit within thebutton opening 529.

To connect a brush tip 325 to the brush shaft 320, a user need onlyplace the brush tip 325 on the brush shaft 320 and rotate the brush tip325 until the alignment tip 490 of the brush shaft 320 mates with thekey surface 524 of the alignment insert 422 within the tip shaft 423.Then the user needs to press the brush tip 325 onto the brush shaft 320until the lateral arms 441 a/b of the spring retainer clip 438 seatwithin the clip recess 489 on the brush shaft 320. The diameter of thebrush shaft 320 increases along a beveled edge immediately adjacent theclip recess 489. The arms 441 a/b of the spring retainer clip 438 expandlaterally outward along this edge and then, when past the beveled edge,the arms 441 a/b contract laterally inward to lodge within the cliprecess 489. The separation distance between the lateral arms 441 a/bwhen at rest is selected to be congruent with the diameter of the cliprecess 489. Typically, an audible “click” can be heard by the user whenthe lateral arms 441 a/b lodge within the clip recess 489 so that theuser knows that the brush tip 325 is securely attached to the handle311. The gauge, material strength, and elasticity of the wire formingthe spring retainer clip 438 are specifically chosen to ensure retentionof the brush tip 325 on the brush shaft 320 under the operatingpressures of the water jet function and further to reliably expandduring engagement and disengagement of the brush tip 325 over anappropriate number of cycles equivalent to or greater than an estimatedlife of the bristles 327.

To disconnect a brush tip 325 from the brush shaft 320, the user needmerely press down on the release button 436 and pull the brush tip 235away from the handle 311. The depression of the release button 436 bendsthe clip lever 439 inward and pushes it in between the free ends of theclip arms 441 a/b. The width of the clip lever 439 is wider than the gapbetween the clip arms 441 a/b so the clip arms 441 a/b are pushed apart.The width of the clip lever 439 is chosen such that the clip arms 441a/b spread apart wider than the outer diameter of the brush shaft 320adjacent the clip recess 489 therein so that the brush tip 325 can beeasily removed from the brush shaft 320.

In order to operate the toothbrush/flosser 310, the removable base mustbe attached to the handle 311. Further, for the water jet flosserfunction to operate, the inlet port 414 on the removable base 318 mustbe attached via a fluid hose to a water jet base unit with a pump and areservoir. The removable base 318 may be attached to the handle 311 byaligning the arch-shaped fluid channel casing 460 with the arched cutout304 in the housing 316 and inserting the valve post 459 into theinduction port 317 of the coil bobbin 400. A fluid tight seal betweenthe valve post 459 and the coil bobbin 400 is provided by the coil seal335 in the induction port 317 fitting around and against the valve post459. When the arched cutout 304 and the arch-shaped fluid channel casing460 are aligned, the latch feet 403 extending from the coil bobbin 400will necessarily align with and extend through both the latch slots 458in the base cap 389 and the latch apertures 306 in the latch plate 390.The user may press the removable base 318 into the bottom opening 380 ofthe housing 316 until the bottom edge of the housing is flush againstthe base plate 390. This ensures that the compression spring 465 is incompression against the batteries 330, thus pushing the chassis 324 anddrive train 336 into a firm but soft mount relationship with the housing316, and further ensures that the latch feet 403 are in a properposition for engagement by the latch fingers 398 on the latch plate 391.The user then grasps the base release levers 313 and turns the baseplate 391 clockwise against the bias of the latch spring 392 (whichmaintains the latch plate in an open position when the removable base318 is not attached to the handle 311) to latch the latch feet 403 underthe latch fingers 398 and thus connect the removable base 318 to thehandle 311.

When the removable base 318 is attached to the handle 311, the lowerpoppet 394 engages the upper poppet 412. In particular, the plunger 413in the upper poppet 412 interfaces with the shallow recess in the uppersurface of the lower poppet 394. The lower poppet 394 is pushed awayfrom a sealing interface position against the post aperture 462,compressing the lower poppet spring 393 in the process. Simultaneously,the upper poppet 412 is pushed away from a sealing interface positionagainst the bobbin aperture 504, compressing the upper poppet spring 411in the process. In this position, a fluid flow pathway from the fluidinlet 414 to the nozzle 428 in the brush tip 325 is opened. Fluid fromthe water flosser base unit travels through the fluid inlet 414, throughthe fluid channel 351 in the base cap 389, through the fluid channel 396formed between the base plate 390 and the base cap 389, around the lowerpoppet 394 in the valve post 459, through the post aperture 504, intothe induction port 317, through the bobbin aperture 504, around theupper poppet 412, through the fluid outlet 406 and the fluid chamber 508formed between the coil bobbin 400 and the bobbin cap 410, and to theconnector barb 469. Fluid then transfers from the connector barb 469into and through the fluid tube 415 to the fluid port 370 in the rockerarm 350, through the transverse fluid passage 518 in the rocker arm 350,into the fluid lumen 452 defined in the brush shaft 320, out the outletport 453 of the shaft, into the tip fluid passage 440, and finally outthe nozzle 428. The cup seal 432 in the tip shaft 423 provides a fluidseal between the interior of the brush tip 325 and the outer diameter ofthe brush shaft 320. This prevents the fluid that is exiting the fluidoutlet 453 of the brush shaft 320 from escaping out the base of thebrush tip 325 and forces the fluid to continue on to the cavity 523 inthe brush head 424.

As noted previously, the fluid flow from a base pump unit may becontrolled by the switches 345 a/b in the handle 311 of thetoothbrush/flosser 310. The switches 345 a/b may also be used to controlthe action of the brush tip 325. Selection of one of the switches 345a/b may actuate the motor 332 at either a low or high speed. The motor332 may be a two-speed motor or a variable speed motor and themicrocontroller on the circuit board 334 may vary the voltage to themotor 332 at discrete and controlled levels and thereby change the motorspeed between low and high options. The motor speed is preferably sonic,from 13,000 RPM to 17,000 RPM and often may be 15,000 RPM.

Once the motor 332 is actuated by a switch 345 a/b, the output shaft 37,which is fixed within the shaft bore 514 of the eccentric cam 514,rotates continuously in a single rotational direction until the switch345 a/b is depressed to deactivate the motor 332 and stop its rotation.The rotation of the eccentric cam 353 causes the dog bone coupler 352 tomove back and forth or, oscillate, primarily in an oblong or linearorientation.

The rocker drive shaft 372 connecting the dog bone coupler 352 to therocker arm 350 pivots within the bushing 368 as the dog bone coupler 352reciprocates but is fixed within the driver nubbin 371 in the rocker arm350. The back and forth or oscillating displacement of the dog bonecoupler 352 causes the rocker arm 350 to pivot back and forth about theaxis passing through the center of the brush shaft 320. As a result, thebrush shaft 320, which is mounted in the aperture 363 in the rocker arm358, pivots back and forth about the longitudinal axis of the brushshaft 320. The pivot movement of the brush shaft 320 causes the brushhead 424 to move in about a 5 degree arc at sonic speeds. The alignmentinsert 422 in the tip shaft 423 is permanently assembled to the interiorof the tip shaft 423 and serves to locate and key the brush tip 325relative to the brush shaft 320. This forces the brush head 424 tofollow the oscillation of the brush shaft 320 and thereby produces sonicmovement of the bristle tufts 327.

It may be appreciated that the sonic drive system of the handle 311could be constructed in several alternate configurations from that whichis described above. For example, the drive system could be designed toconvert the input motion into rotary oscillatory output motion about anaxis perpendicular to the brush axis. Similarly, the drive system couldbe designed to convert the input motion into linear oscillatory motionon an axis approximately parallel to the brush axis. Alternately, thedrive system could be designed to make use of a vibratory system thatwould cause the brush head to move in a somewhat random pattern.

When the toothbrush/flosser 310 is low on power, the user may rechargethe battery pack 330 by removing the removable base 318. The user maygrasp the base release levers 313 and turn them counter clockwise torelease the interface between the latch fingers 398 on the latch plate390 and the latch feet 402 on the coil bobbin 400 and pull the removablebase 318 off of the handle 311. When the removable base 318 is removedfrom the handle 311, the lower poppet 394 is forced to seal the postaperture 462 by the lower poppet spring 393. This prevents any residualwater in the hose from the base pump unit from leaking, or alternativelyprevents a leak if the base unit is accidentally turned on while thehose is still attached to the removable base 318. Similarly, the upperpoppet 412 is forced to seal the bobbin aperture 504 by the upper poppetspring 411. This prevents any residual water in the handle 311 fromleaking. The handle 316 may then be placed on an inductive charging post(not shown) with an inductive post sized to fit within the inductionport 317. The inductive post may be designed to have a center recess inthe top surface so as not to engage the plunger 413 on of the upperpoppet 412 and disrupt the seal against leakage from residual fluidwithin the handle 311.

Another exemplary embodiment of a brush tip 625 is presented in FIGS.33A-33C. In this embodiment, the connection structure for connecting thebrush tip 625 to a brush shaft is the same as in the embodiment of FIGS.26-32 using the alignment insert 622, cup seal 632, shaft retainer 630,and release button 636. A colored ring 648 may be attached to the baseof the tip shaft 623 to allow for multiple users of thetoothbrush/flosser to easily identify their personal brush tip 625 forattachment to the handle. The configuration of the brush head 624 is theprimary difference. The tip shaft 623 defines a tip fluid passage 640therethrough to the brush head 624. The brush head 624 defines a bristlebase 637 composed of a plurality of recesses into which a plurality ofbristle tufts 627 may be inserted and glued in place. In addition, acylindrical nozzle enclosure 645 extends normally from the bristle base637 in an area surrounded by bristle tufts 627 to about one quarter toone third the height of the bristle tufts 627. The nozzle enclosure 645defines a nozzle aperture 635 that opens in a top surface of the nozzleenclosure 645.

An elastomeric water jet nozzle 828 is positioned within the nozzleenclosure 845 and extends upward out of the nozzle aperture 635approximately two thirds the height of the bristle tufts 627. The nozzle628 defines a fluid lumen, is generally cylindrical, and defines acup-shaped flange 642 at its base, which is received in nozzle enclosure645 and is retained thereby. The nozzle aperture 635 is slightly largerin diameter than the outer diameter of the nozzle above the flange 642and smaller in diameter than the diameter of the flange 642. A cavity633 is formed in the back of the brush head 624 to provide access to thenozzle enclosure 645 and a fluid flow connection between the nozzleenclosure 645 and the tip fluid passage 640. The nozzle enclosure 645may extend below the bristle base 637 to the bottom of the cavity 633.As shown in FIG. 33B, this allows the nozzle 628 to drop below theheight of the bristle tufts 627 when the water jet is not in operationand thereby not interfere with the brushing modes. The cavity 633 may beenclosed by a brush head plug 626 that snaps into the sidewalls definingthe cavity 633 and is ultrasonically welded or otherwise adhered toprovide a fluid-tight seal in the brush head 624.

When the water jet function is selected on the handle, the pressurizedwater flow through the tip fluid channel 640 and into the nozzleenclosure 645 pushes on the flange 642 and causes the nozzle 628 to risewithin the nozzle enclosure 645. The nozzle 628 extends through thenozzle aperture 635 until the top of the flange 642 interfaces with thetop of the nozzle enclosure 645 around the nozzle aperture 635 as shownin FIG. 33C. The nozzle 628 thus rises above the height of the bristletufts 627. This extended, exposed nozzle location provides the user withthe necessary feedback to accurately position the nozzle 628 and fluidstream along the gum line. When the water jet mode is discontinued, thenozzle 628 may fall within the nozzle enclosure 645 back to the base orit can be pushed downward into the nozzle enclosure 645 with a finger orthrough brushing action against a user's teeth.

A further exemplary embodiment of a brush tip 725 is presented in FIGS.34A and 34B. In this embodiment, the connection structure for connectingthe brush tip 725 to a brush shaft is the same as in the embodiment ofFIGS. 26-32 using the alignment insert 722, cup seal 732, shaft retainer730, and release button 736. A colored ring 748 may be attached to thebase of the tip shaft 723 to allow for multiple users of thetoothbrush/flosser to easily identify their personal brush tip 725 forattachment to the handle. The configuration of the brush head 724 is theprimary difference. The tip shaft 723 defines a tip fluid passage 740therethrough to the brush head 724. The brush head 724 defines part of abristle base 737 composed of a plurality of recesses into which aplurality of bristle tufts 627 may be inserted and glued in place. Asecond bristle base 739 may be separately formed from the tip shaft 723and connected to the bristle base 737 (e.g., by ultrasonic welding). Inaddition, a cylindrical nozzle enclosure 745 is formed within the secondbristle base 739 at an obtuse angle with respect to the surface plane ofthe second bristle base 739. The nozzle enclosure 745 emerges in surfaceplane of the second bristle base 739 adjacent the distal tip of thebrush head 724 in a position directed distally away from the bristletufts 727. The nozzle enclosure 745 defines a nozzle aperture 735 thatopens in a top surface of the nozzle enclosure 745.

An elastomeric water jet nozzle 728 is positioned within the nozzleenclosure 645 and extends out of the nozzle aperture 735 distally at thesame angle as the nozzle enclosure 745 with respect to the surface planeof the second bristle base 739. The nozzle 728 defines a fluid lumen, isgenerally cylindrical, and defines a flange 742 at its base, which isreceived in nozzle enclosure 745 and is retained thereby. The nozzleaperture 735 is slightly larger in diameter than the outer diameter ofthe nozzle 728 above the flange 742 and smaller in diameter than thediameter of the flange 742. A cavity 733 is formed in the back of thebrush head 724 to provide access to the nozzle enclosure 745 and a fluidflow connection between the nozzle enclosure 745 and the tip fluidpassage 740. The nozzle enclosure 745 may extend at an angle below thebristle base 739 to the bottom of the cavity 733. As shown in FIG. 34B,this allows the nozzle 728 to stay out of the way of the bristle tufts627 when the water jet is not in operation and thereby not interferewith the brushing modes. The cavity 733 may be enclosed by a brush headcover 726 that is overmoulded or ultrasonically welded around thebristle bases 737, 739 to define the cavity 733 and provide afluid-tight seal in the brush head 624.

When the water jet function is selected on the handle, the pressurizedwater flow through the tip fluid passage 740 and into the nozzleenclosure 745 pushes on the flange 742 and causes the nozzle 728 toextend within the nozzle enclosure 745. The nozzle 728 extends throughthe nozzle aperture 735 until the top of the flange 742 interfaces withthe top of the nozzle enclosure 745 around the nozzle aperture 735. Thenozzle 728 thus rises to extend beyond the distal end of the brush head724. When the water jet mode is discontinued, the nozzle 728 may slideor fall within the nozzle enclosure 745 back to the base or it can bepushed downward into the nozzle enclosure 745 with a finger or throughbrushing action against a user's teeth.

An additional exemplary embodiment of a brush tip 825 is presented inFIGS. 35A and 35B. In this embodiment, the connection structure forconnecting the brush tip 825 to a brush shaft is the same as in theembodiment of FIGS. 26-32 using the alignment insert 822, cup seal 832,shaft retainer 830, and release button 836. A colored ring 848 may beattached to the base of the tip shaft 823 to allow for multiple users ofthe toothbrush/flosser to easily identify their personal brush tip 825for attachment to the handle. The configuration of the brush head 824 isthe primary difference. The tip shaft 823 defines a tip fluid passage840 therethrough to the brush head 824. The brush head 824 defines abristle base 837 composed of a plurality of recesses into which aplurality of bristle tufts 827 may be inserted and glued in place.

In addition, the brush head 824 defines a nozzle aperture 835 that opensadjacent the distal tip of the brush head 824 in a position directeddistally away from the bristle tufts 827. An elastomeric water jetnozzle 828 is positioned within the nozzle aperture 835 and extendsdistally at in a direction normal to the place of the nozzle aperture835. The nozzle 828 defines a fluid lumen, is generally conical, andtapers in diameter from its base, which is received in the nozzleaperture 835, to its tip. A cavity 833 is formed in the back of thebrush head 824 to provide access to the nozzle aperture 835 and a fluidflow connection between the nozzle aperture 835 and the tip fluidpassage 840. The cavity 823 may be enclosed by a brush head cover 826that that is overmoulded or ultrasonically welded around the bristlebase 837 to define the cavity 833 and provide a fluid-tight seal in thebrush head 824.

A cylindrical recessed band 851 is formed in a sidewall of the nozzle828 adjacent the base, which thus appears as a raised band 842. Theouter diameter of the recessed band 851 is generally congruent with thediameter of the nozzle aperture 835 while the outer diameter of theraised band 842 is larger than the diameter of the nozzle aperture 835.When the nozzle 828 is inserted into the nozzle aperture 835 from thecavity 833 in the rear of the brush head 824, the recessed band 851 fitssnugly within the nozzle aperture 835 and the raised band 842 abuts theback of the bristle base 827, preventing the nozzle 828 from beingpushed through the nozzle aperture 835 when under pressure. In someembodiments, a nozzle insert (not shown), e.g., a brass tube with a rearflange, may be inserted into the base of the nozzle 828 to prevent thenozzle 828 from bending or collapsing under high water pressure andcontact with teeth and thereby dislodging from the nozzle aperture 835.

All directional references (e.g., proximal, distal, upper, lower,upward, downward, left, right, lateral, longitudinal, front, back, top,bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, radial, axial, clockwise,and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aidthe reader's understanding of the present invention, and do not createlimitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of theinvention. Connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected,and joined) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediatemembers between a collection of elements and relative movement betweenelements unless otherwise indicated. As such, connection references donot necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and infixed relation to each other. The exemplary drawings are for purposes ofillustration only and the dimensions, positions, order and relativesizes reflected in the drawings attached hereto may vary.

The above specification, examples and data provide a completedescription of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of theinvention as defined in the claims. Although various embodiments of theclaimed invention have been described above with a certain degree ofparticularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments,those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to thedisclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of theclaimed invention. Other embodiments are therefore contemplated. It isintended that all matter contained in the above description and shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only ofparticular embodiments and not limiting. Changes in detail or structuremay be made without departing from the basic elements of the inventionas defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toothbrush comprising: a handle including an end surface and a fluid inlet; a brush shaft extending from the end surface of the handle, the brush shaft including a proximal end positioned within the handle and a distal end positioned external the handle, the brush shaft defining a fluid lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; a drive assembly including a rocker arm positioned within the handle, the drive assembly causing the brush shaft to oscillate upon actuation of a motor; a brush tip removably coupled to the brush shaft and positioned adjacent to the end surface of the handle, the brush tip defining a fluid conduit therein in fluid communication with the fluid lumen of the brush shaft, wherein oscillation of the brush shaft causes the entire brush tip to oscillate correspondingly; and a fluid tube positioned within the handle and extending between and coupled to an inlet barb of the rocker arm and the fluid inlet of the handle, wherein fluid is transported from the fluid tube to the fluid conduit of the brush tip by the fluid lumen of the brush shaft.
 2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the fluid tube is in continuous fluid communication with the fluid conduit of the brush tip via the fluid lumen of the brush shaft.
 3. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly defines a fluid passage in fluid communication with the fluid lumen of the brush shaft.
 4. The toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the fluid passage of the drive assembly is positioned between the brush shaft and the fluid tube.
 5. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein: the brush tip includes a brush head on a distal end thereof, the brush head including a nozzle tip positioned amongst a plurality of bristles; and the nozzle tip is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit such that fluid is expelled through the nozzle tip during operation of the toothbrush.
 6. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the brush tip includes a brush head on a distal end thereof, the brush head supporting a plurality of bristles.
 7. The toothbrush of claim 6, wherein the brush head further comprises a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid conduit in the brush tip.
 8. The toothbrush of claim 7, wherein: the brush head further comprises a jet tip that forms the fluid outlet; the jet tip extends to an extended position with respect to a surface of the brush head when fluid under pressure is in the fluid conduit of the brush head; and the jet tip retracts to a retracted position with respect to a surface of the brush head when there is no fluid pressure in the fluid conduit of the brush head.
 9. The toothbrush of claim 8, wherein: the brush head further comprises a plurality of bristles extending from the surface of the brush head; a distal end of the jet tip extends beyond a distal end of the bristles when the jet tip is in the extended position; and a distal end of the jet tip does not extend beyond a distal end of the bristles when the jet tip is in the retracted position.
 10. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the fluid tube is mounted onto the inlet barb.
 11. The toothbrush of claim 10, further comprising a locking sleeve positioned over the inlet barb to secure the fluid tube onto the inlet barb.
 12. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a battery positioned in the handle, and wherein the fluid tube is routed alongside the battery within the handle.
 13. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the fluid tube includes a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the inlet barb of the rocker arm, and the second end coupled to a fluid connector positioned in a base end of the handle.
 14. A toothbrush comprising: a handle including a fluid inlet; a brush shaft extending from the handle, the brush shaft including a longitudinal axis and defining a fluid channel therealong; a brush tip removably coupled to the brush shaft and including a brush head and defining a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid channel of the brush shaft; a drive assembly that oscillates the brush shaft about its longitudinal axis, the drive assembly including a rocker arm; and a fluid tube through which fluid is transported from the fluid inlet to the fluid channel of the brush shaft, the fluid tube extending between and coupled to an inlet barb of the rocker arm and the fluid inlet of the handle; wherein the brush shaft transfers motion and fluid to the brush tip.
 15. The toothbrush of claim 14, further comprising an electric motor positioned within the handle and including a drive shaft, wherein the rocker arm connects the drive shaft to the brush shaft, the rocker arm defining a cavity that provides fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid channel.
 16. The toothbrush of claim 15, further comprising a battery positioned in the handle between the brush shaft and a base end of the handle, wherein the fluid tube is routed alongside the battery within the handle.
 17. The toothbrush of claim 16, wherein the fluid tube includes a first end coupled to the inlet barb of the rocker arm, and a second end coupled to a fluid connector positioned in the base end of the handle.
 18. The toothbrush of claim 14, wherein the drive assembly defines a flow lumen that provides fluid communication between the fluid tube and the fluid channel.
 19. The toothbrush of claim 18, wherein the flow lumen extends laterally from the longitudinal axis of the brush shaft.
 20. The toothbrush of claim 14, wherein: the handle includes an end surface; and the brush tip slidably engages the end surface of the handle when coupled to the brush shaft. 